The texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary are part
of the liturgy which remembers St Dominic, who in the early 13th
century was granted the authority to form the Order of Preachers. Historians
comment on the quality of the teaching and mercy of this saint. The passage
today from the Book of Jeremiah celebrates the return of the Israelites to the
lands of Israel and Judah. Friar Jude Winkler points out the characteristics of
God frequently proclaimed in the Hebrew Testament are faithfulness and mercy.
The declaration of Jeremiah that God seeks the restoration of “He will be their
God and they will be His people” is the statement of the Divine nature. Dominic
and his followers sought to renew the Church through the correction of heresy
and the example of holiness which is expressed in mercy, compassion and love.
The Gospel of Matthew deals with faith. The Canaanite woman is a pagan who is
moved to faith in Jesus, evidenced, according to Friar Jude, by her address of Jesus
as “Son of David” and “Lord”, seeks healing for her daughter. The radiation of
holiness attracts people. Jesus attracted the pagan woman who through faith was
able to set aside the derision in which the outsider was held by the Jewish
culture to prove herself faith filled, clever and persistent. These qualities
are attributes of saints like Dominic who bring truth to people in the example
of their lives.
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