Wednesday, July 15, 2020

Memorial of Saint Bonaventure, Doctor of the Church

(Isaiah 10:5-7.13b-16; Matthew 11:25-27)

St. Bonaventure was both a scholar and an administrator.  He held the Franciscan chair at the University of Paris until he served as Minister General of the Franciscan Order.  On a superficial level this background seems to eliminate him from Jesus’ company.  After all, in today gospel Jesus thanks the Father for revealing his mystery “to the wise and the learned.”

But Jesus does not mean to exclude all wise and learned.  What he cannot tolerate are those who use knowledge to lord it over others.  He has the Pharisees especially in mind.  These men advise the poor to make sacrifices while they find excuses to avoid them.  Jesus knows that true wisdom recognizes the need for divine love.  It also discerns how this love has been extended to the faithful poor.

Our task is to imitate Jesus as Bonaventure did.  We first pray to God in thanksgiving.  God is the source of everything including the benefits of life and love.  Then we make known to God our needs.  We want to ask for simplicity that recognizes the goodness of each person but pays tribute mostly to God.

Wednesday, July 15, 2015

Memorial of Saint Bonaventure, Doctor of the Church

(Exodus3:1-6.9-12; Matthew 11:25-27)

An edifying story is told of St. Bonaventure which demonstrates the humility Jesus praises in the gospel today.  St. Bonaventure was a very learned man who has been named a doctor of the Church.  Still, according to the story, he was humble enough to recognize greater genius in others.

It is said that the pope announced a poetry contest in praise of the Holy Eucharist.  Both men Bonaventure and his colleague St. Thomas Aquinas submitted entries.  On the day of competition, Thomas read his work first -- the famous “Pange Lingua” which we still sing today.  According to the story, Bonaventure listened to Thomas’ words, wept in adoration, and tore up his own entry.

We do not have to write glorious poetry to give God praise.  Like those whom Jesus recommends to his Father in the gospel, we only have to respond with loving faith to God’s goodness.

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Wednesday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Isaiah 10:5-7.13b-16; Matthew 11:25-27)

According to a contemporary proverb, when life deals you lemons, you are to make lemonade.  It may sound Pollyannaish, but it might be said that Jesus is up to something similar in today’s gospel.

The tenor of today’s gospel differs so dramatically from yesterday’s that they seem to come from different parts of the New Testament.  Yet they follow one another as surely as calf and cow.  In yesterday’s passage Jesus complained that Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum will not reform despite the fact that he has shown them God’s mighty deeds.  But Jesus refuses to sulk. Rather in today’s verses, that directly follow the lament over the three towns, Jesus thanks God for revealing His glory to the humble.

The passage reassures us that we do not have to be rich, schooled, or intelligent to be enlightened by God.  As a matter of fact, the situation indicates the contrary.  When we humbly submit to God in prayer and obedience, He will reveal His truth to us.