Restore the Vine

08/08/08

Memorial of Saint Dominic, priest

See, upon the mountains there advances the bearer of good news, announcing peace! Celebrate your feasts, O Judah, fulfill your vows! For nevermore shall you be invaded by the scoundrel; he is completely destroyed. The LORD will restore the vine of Jacob, the pride of Israel, though ravagers have ravaged them and ruined the tendrils. Nahum 2:1-2

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” Matthew 16:24-25

Piety

O God, fill us with your genuine love which is so effective in providing and procuring the salvation of your people. Make us totally dedicated, like your humble servant Dominc, to helping others just as Jesus Christ gave himself wholly to our redemption. Amen.

(Adapted from Benedictine Daily Prayer: A Short Breviary, page 2026 which describes a favorite prayer of St. Dominic)

Study

http://www.usccb.org/nab/080808.shtml

Choice. It is our choice. Do we take the side of the bearer of good news? Or do we turn our back and opt for those who would ravage his message?

Nahum and Matthew seem to be on the same page a few centuries apart. Matthew relates Jesus’ message after he tells Peter to “get behind me.” What happens when we get behind Jesus?

Rather than putting ourselves and our needs at the front of the parade, Jesus leads. We follow him. But before we can march in that parade, we have one more command. We must pick up our cross. His cross.

Action

As we pick up our cross, we will have to put down everything else. No laptops, I-pods, favorite books, briefcase chocked full of work, grocery bags, etc. Drop everything including your ego. To follow Jesus is to “disown” everything else – including ourselves. We can no longer be the center of our own existence.

These days, people are starting to figure out which candidate they will “get behind” in a general election. Yet today’s readings show us the true choice. There is only one candidate seeking us. We have to make our choice, not just behind a closed curtain on the first Tuesday in November, but everyday. From the seminary to the sacristy to the streets, Jesus is the true candidate who delivers on what he promises – eternal life. He asks us to get behind him so he can lead the way. The alternative is not very appealing.

Just because all “eights” come up in today’s date, don’t leave your fate in the hands of a Magic 8 Ball. Make the choice that matters most. J.E.S.U.S.