The Memorial of St Dominic

The Memorial of St Dominic

By REV. FR. SAMUEL FREDERICK

Ezk. 1:2-5.24-28, Mt. 17:22-27. Today's first reading recounts the story of the call of the prophet Ezekiel, who received a glorious vision of God on His Heavenly Throne, surrounded by Angels, the Seraphim and the Cherubim in all of His glory. Ezekiel’s vision offers a startling revelation of the awesome splendour of God, travelling across the desert accompanying His people. The prophet also turned out to be a man of practical detail, charting Israel’s future afterwards, when the Babylonian exile would be ended. In his blueprint, God’s glory “dwells” not just in the Jerusalem Temple but wherever His people are. The Temple at the time of Ezekiel was great and even greater was the Temple at the time of Jesus because Jesus Himself is the new Temple. The Jewish people felt the presence of God in the Temple and were always excited to be able to be within the place of God’s glory. Yet the Temple, in all its glory, was not God’s only dwelling place among mortals. Some people put much emphasis on the physical building and less emphasis on building good relationship with God. Ezekiel’s vision of Heaven was meant to be a reminder that the people did not need to be in the Temple to experience God’s glory.

In today's Gospel, Jesus accepted the Temple tradition and told Peter to pay the Temple tax for both of them; but Jesus gave hints that the Father’s intentions reached far beyond the Temple. The half-shekel tax was the tax that every Jew in the time of Jesus paid annually towards the upkeep of the Temple. Jesus affirmed that He and His followers were exempted from this tax, because He has become for us a new Temple.
Yet, He told Peter to pay the tax so as not to offend the religious leaders. In other words, Jesus declared freedom in this regard but recommended putting this freedom to one side for the moment so as not to give unnecessary offence. In that way Jesus reminds us that although we may be free in regard to certain matters, sometimes it can be right not to use our freedom when the good of others is at stake. St Dominic whose memorial we celebrate also had the interest of others at heart as he dedicated himself in humanitarian service. St Dominic, also known as St Dominic de Guzman was the founder of the Order of Preachers, also known as the Dominican Order. He was a Spanish Priest, known for his great faith and charitable acts since his early youth. Dominic established the foundation of his new religious order, dedicating himself and all others to a new way of life, focusing on God and leading a more ascetic and holy way of living, distancing themselves from worldly temptations and desires, and spending the time and effort to get ever closer to God.

May the Lord stay with us and with everyone we meet this week and let us give His joy and peace to the world! Amen!! Good morning, have a fruitful week!!!

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