Simple Profession 2025
Novices brothers, please stand and face the congregation. Folks, I want you to look at these young men very closely. Take a second to really SEE them. Now, here's my question: do these novices have beautiful feet? It's difficult to tell with their shoes on, right? In yesterday's reading for the feast of St. Dominic, we heard read the words of Isaiah: “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news.” We can't see the novices' feet at the moment. They may be beautiful already. Or they may need some work. We don't know. What we do know is these men are here this morning to announce to this congregation, to the Order of Preachers, and to all the People of God that they are ready to take next step in a life-long transfiguration, growing from novice preachers into men walking on the most beautiful feet! One year down, brothers. Seventy years or eighty with good health to go. What must they do to become the great preachers God has called them to be? What must they give to Christ to be bearers of his Word?
The RYM asks Jesus a similar question. “Teacher, what must I do to gain eternal life?” We can imagine the RYM preparing himself for all sorts of answers. Climb that mountain and sit in silence for a year. Wash in the river everyday while singing the Psalms. Cross the desert w/o food or water. Instead, Jesus says, “If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” We can almost see the RYM's relief. Whew! I'm doing that already. But just to be sure, he asks, “Which ones?” Jesus quotes the first few commandments. The RYM, maybe growing anxious again, says, “I'm doing all that. What do I still lack?” What do I still lack? This tells us that the RYM isn't happy. He's not fulfilled. Following the commandments isn't enough to attain eternal life. What's fueling his lack, his sense of not having what he knows he needs? Jesus answers, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” You can see the RYM's face drop. Not the answer he is looking for. Why? Because he has many possessions. We goes away sad. He goes away with that lack still gnawing at his heart. IOW, he is unwilling to do what it takes to follow Christ, to become a witness to Christ's Word in the world.
These novice brothers asked Christ to teach them the way to eternal life. He taught them to detach from the world and follow him. They've answered his call to work out their salvation in fear and trembling as Dominican friars. They've chosen to cooperate with God's grace in the perfection of their nature by taking simple vows and striving to live those vows as faithfully as they are able. Their gifts will be turned toward bringing divine love and mercy into the lives of everyone they meet and in turn that love will be perfected in them. What “rough edges” they have will be smoothed out over time. Community life will see to that! Whatever deficiencies each may have will be made up for by the gifts of their brothers. And together with their brothers and sisters in the Order, they will contribute to a more perfect witness to the Father's mercy wherever they go. They know that Dominican life is both the hardest and the easiest life they can live. Hard b/c we expect great things from them. And easy b/c they will receive in abundance the mercy they need to flourish. I've lived with these five for the past year. I can bear witness that they are good men motivated by a love of God, a longing for holiness, and a readiness to learn what they must learn. Their vows bind them to us and at the same time free them to be what God has made and remade them to be. Where do they go from here?
Literally, they go to St Louis to begin six years of study. Spiritually, they begin what will be a life-long formation in charity under the vow of obedience. To modern American ears, “vow of obedience” sounds ominous, almost draconian. Images of identical little robots marching in step come to mind. Not even remotely close. If you know Dominicans, you know we may look alike from a distance but up close we're a grab bag of everything from Martin de Porres to Garrigou-Lagrange, from Rose of Lima to Catherine de Ricci. Our variety is marshaled and freed in obedience – the vow to listen to one another; to submit our preferences to the good of the community; and to wholeheartedly follow those elected to lead us. These brothers know that life of a Dominican friar is never lived in its Platonic Form. We are men not angels. They know we fall. They know we sin. They know we sometimes want to quit. And this is why we take vows. We say Yes to the mission of the Order once for all our lives. We should never need to say Yes again. We've said it. And once is enough. But when we do start to feel the urge to backslide, we have the brothers to strengthen us. And they will, if we let them.
Brothers, I've been your Prior and Professor this year. I can't resist one more priorial lesson: surrender. You've heard my wild stories of my novitiate and studium years. I was the RYM who refused to surrender his possessions to follow Christ. My possessions weren't the stuff of wealth and privilege. What I refused to surrender – at first – was my Pride. It kept me in trouble. So, I admonish you: do not be like me! It's not worth the anguish. Instead, go to STL with an open heart and critical mind ready to learn what you need to learn to be great preachers. You're going to be challenged. You're going to balk on occasion. And you will likely find yourself wondering, “What have I done?” Persevere. The studium is not the province; the province is not the Order; and the Order is not the Church. Stay the course. Be obedient. Contribute your gifts. And you will flourish. Detach from whatever it is that keeps you bound to this temporary world of things and strive for all the treasure in heaven. Brothers, we are proud of who you've become this year, and we give God thanks for your vocation and your Yes. God has amazing things in store you and through you for us. May your feet become as beautiful as they were made to be.
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