Memorial of Saint
Bernard, abbot and doctor of the Church
(Judges 6:11-24a; Matthew 19:23-30)
St. Bernard, the monastic reformer and hero of the Middle
Ages, wrote a famous letter of admonition to his cousin Robert. The young man had lived with Bernard in the
reformed monastery of Clairvau but in the latter’s absence was lured to the comfortable
monastery at Cluny. Bernard felt that he
was putting his eternal life in jeopardy.
“If furs smooth and warm, if cloth fine and costly,… make a saint,” he penned,
“why do I delay to follow thee? Such
things are comfort for the feeble, not weapons for the valiant.” One can hear in these words an echo of Jesus
in today’s gospel.
Jesus assures his disciples that those who sacrifice
comforts and family “for the sake of my name” will gain eternal life. He knows that such service can be costly if
not in physical depravation than perhaps in emotional loss as living Christian values
may mean alienation from those counted on for support. Yet, Jesus says, it is worth much more than
any effort given.
We sometimes think of the good life as receiving adulation from others. But real satisfaction comes from taking joy
in doing God’s will. He does not want to
see us unhappy. Rather He calls us to communion
with Him in the delightful company of saints like Bernard and others closer to
us in time and space.
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