Memorial of Saint
Thomas Aquinas, priest
(2 Samuel 7:18-19.24-29; Mark 4:21-25)
The philosopher said that Thomas Aquinas did not have a
sufficient appreciation of Scripture.
His words sounded odd to students of Aquinas. Was the philosopher not aware that the academic
position that Thomas held was “Master of the Sacred Page”?
There are still lively debates about whether Thomas was
more a philosopher or a theologian. With
the new interest in cosmology, Thomas’ writings are cited as a kind of benchmark. But he is no less looked to as the definitive
voice up to his time on matters such as grace.
A distinguished contemporary theologian remembers the place where Thomas
corrects St. Augustine, the preeminent doctor of grace. The question Thomas was
disputing was whether charity exists within humans as simply the presence of
the Holy Spirit or whether it becomes a specifically human capacity. Augustine held the former view, but Thomas
reasoned the contrary. He held that if
God extends true friendship to humans, humans must be able to love Him with
their own mind and heart. Therefore,
charity exists within them not just as the presence of God but as their own transformed
capacity to love Him as friends.
We should ask how we get this ability to love God as a
friend. The answer, of course, is
through Jesus, who became one of us so that we might become divine like
him. We can find this happening right
now in this Eucharist. As Thomas wrote,
in this sacred banquet Christ becomes our food and grace fills our hearts. This same grace transforms our limited human
nature so that we might turn to the awesome God as our best friend.
