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Memorial of Saint Dominic, Priest

By Melanie Rigney

Celebrate your feasts, O Judah, fulfill your vows! For nevermore shall you be invaded by the scoundrel; he is completely destroyed. (Nahum 2:1)

Surely, the Lord shall do justice for his people; on his servants he shall have pity. (Deuteronomy 32:36)

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

Jesus, lend me a hand as I hoist my cross. May I learn from your example not to complain, but to do what I am called to do.

Study

Do you want to save your life?

I’d imagine most of us would give a quick “Of course!” to that question. But do we, really?

If we really want to save our lives, would we continue to look the other way when we pass the homeless, the mentally ill, and others who make us uncomfortable?

If we really want to save our lives, would we continue to skip any sort of regular prayer practice because we’re just too busy with work and our hobbies?

If we really want to save our lives, would we continue to sit on our hands when we have the opportunity to raise our voices and souls and pocketbooks to battle religious oppression, domestically and around the world?

Do you really want to save your life? Do you really want to put aside comfort for the types of physical, financial, mental, emotional, and spiritual challenges that serving the Lord entail?

If the answer is yes, pick up your cross. You’ll find it in that corner where you left it when it seemed too heavy. Pick it up… and follow. It gets lighter as you go.

Action

Do something today in Christ’s name that makes you uncomfortable but that you know He desires.