Tuesday, August 20, 2013


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.