Memorial of Saint
Bonaventure, bishop and doctor of the Church
(Isaiah 38:1-5.21-22.7-8; Matthew12:1-8)
St. Bonaventure was baptized Giovanni. It is said that his
name was changed by St. Francis of Assisi who cured him of a childhood
illness. The name that stuck means good fortune. The good fortune was both his and Francis’. Bonaventure not only experienced physical
healing but also came to know the greatest of the medieval saints. Francis found in Bonaventure a truly wise man
who became his successor and biographer.
Today’s gospel shows Jesus’ disciples with similar good fortune. They have him as their defender while he has them
-- some of whom will die for him – as followers.
The disciples are being criticized for picking grain on
the Sabbath. It is not a major offense
and may be justified in cases as Jesus demonstrates. Interestingly, Jesus himself is not accused
of breaking the Sabbath law here.
Evidently he is more ascetic than the others. But he neither extols liberality or
abstinence on this occasion. He uses the
situation to proclaim the urgency for practicing mercy. He wants his followers to be less critical
and more understanding of people’s needs.
We tend to judge harshly when others do not conform to
the standards which we use for ourselves.
We may be practicing what we preach, but we miss the higher bar of mercy
that Jesus sets. He is asking us to discern
carefully before criticizing others.
