Saint Thomas
Aquinas, priest and doctor of the Church
(Hebrews 9:15.24-28; Mark 3:22-30)
In Thomas Aquinas’ “Prayer before Study” the saint asks
the Lord for light. He sees himself
engulfed by a twofold darkness – ignorance and sin. The first obscurity regards all the reality
which his mind has not grasped. Aquinas is
said to have known everything that was known at the time. But perhaps, like Socrates, he knew that
there were oceans of knowledge still to be learned. The second darkness is even thicker. Sin often infects the mind so that one thinks
he has answers to all questions or, at least, all the questions that are
important. We may liken these two obscurities
to the strongman which Jesus speaks of in today’s gospel.
Jesus’ parable astounds the person who considers it. He compares himself to a thief! Moreover, he says, the world is like a
household and the devil like a strong man controlling it. Jesus binds the
strong man by expelling demons. His aim
is to set the people of the household free.
He condemns anyone who would criticize his work but not because he takes
personal offense. No, Jesus is concerned
that his critics are preventing people from being liberated.
The struggle for liberation carries on today. Sometimes we act like we do not want to be
set free. This is true of petty sins
like being “know it alls” as well as more scandalous ones. Jesus has come to liberate us from all vices. Let’s not prevent him from doing so.
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