During the fifth week in Ordinary Time, first readings shift to the creation stories in Genesis, while the Gospel readings continue to follow the actions, prayerful pauses, and corrections performed by Jesus in the Gospel of Mark. These readings reflect on God’s love in action, specifically creation, and how these creative powers establish connections with us, made in God’s image. Conversely, the Scripture confirms our all too human tendency to disconnect from God and our truest selves. Yet God continues to reach out and be right in our midst, gently calling us to turn around and embrace what is real and holy.
We have been reflecting on the Xaverian value of Trust over the course of the season of Ordinary Time. The beauty of the Xaverian values is that they never exist in isolation. Each one invites us to connect to another value, and to experience how all five in concert can lead us to experiences of the Spirit. Trust is possible through a deep openness to Humility, where we are made aware of our own poverty of spirit and need for repentance. The conclusion of today’s reading in Genesis contains a reminder of how important humility is in our relationships and decisions. In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus uses earthy metaphors to get his point across about how trust and humility come together to animate yet another value, that of Compassion, or the heart moving in action for others. The featured Xaverian today is Brother Dominic O’Connell, CFX, former Provincial and the first Principal at Mount Saint Joseph High School in Baltimore. As you read the rich and sometimes blunt biography of this man written by Br. James Kelly, consider how Jesus’ image of the heart was present in the life and times of Brother Dominic. Dominic experienced no shortage of humbling times or of being put in his place. Nevertheless, consider how his belief in the power of relationships gave life to the words in the Fundamental Principles, which Br. James weaves beautifully through the text of his account of Br. Dominic’s life and times.
(Painting above of “The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil” by Laura Sofer)
Read the reflection on the life of Brother Dominic O’Connell, CFX
(Above photo of Brother Dominic O’Connell, CFX-Xaverian Brothers, Mount Saint Joseph High School)
- What is the message of humility embedded in the conclusion of the creation story in Genesis? Where can this be challenging for us in day to day choices?
- In the Gospel, Jesus asks people to rethink their understanding of the sources of sin and evil. What was their mistake, even if it was well meaning? How can we be prone to make similar mistakes of judgment regarding the people we encounter?
- Br. Dominic was known as a man with a great heart. How did his compassion get him into trouble, and what did this reveal about his priorities as a leader?
Please consider writing your own responses to the readings or reflection questions below, or to reply to other peoples’ contributions. Also, if you know of a person, either religious or lay person, who has modeled the Xaverian way, and wish to share their story, please feel free to add to the comments section.
Ordinary and Unspectacular in the Liturgical Year 
Thank you for sharing this, Rob. I always enjoy reading about the Brothers’ colorful lives, especially those with direct connections to MSJ and/or the Baltimore area, as Br. Dominic did. His unique leadership qualities immediately reminded me of a few of our recent past Principals & Presidents – each with their own certian style and strategy, yet always, in the end, doing it with compassion, love, and for “taking care of the boys”!
-Paula
It’s sad to think that Bro. Dominic was blamed for the death of Bro. Bonaventure. He was trying to be kind to his Brothers when this tragedy befell them. I admire Bro. Dominic for humbly obeying and moving to St. Mary’s Industrial School. His work among the poor is so admirable. He reminds me in that way of Fr. Mike Murphy, another special religious man who lives and serves among the poor of Baltimore.
I think sometimes we consider sin as innately embedded in a person. While on one hand we preach the importance of the sacrament of Confession/Reconciliation and want that mercy for ourselves, we sometimes can’t separate the sin from the sinner. I fall into this mistake as much as anyone at times. People like Bro. Dominic and Fr. Mike see into the hearts of people and embrace their true selves. I don’t think they ignore any sin that’s present, but they’re able to treat each person with dignity and love regardless of sinfulness or poverty. That’s my ultimate goal for my interactions with my students.