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, September 25, 2019

Wednesday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time

(Ezra 9:5-9; Luke 9:1-6)

Fr. Meinrad served in Fort Worth for many years as an assistant pastor.  A Benedictine monk, he wore his black habit on the street.  In fact, because of the habit many people noticed him walking from one hospital to another to visit the sick.  Fr. Meinrad was not noted for his preaching skills.  Yet his simplicity, devotedness to service and gentle demeanor spoke more eloquently than model homilies.  Jesus is calling forth such virtues as he sends his apostles out to preach in today’s gospel.

In his instructions Jesus emphasizes the importance of poverty or, what might better be called today, simplicity.  His preachers are not to take anything with them on the journey.  Money, food, even a change of clothes become excessive burdens.  His reason for streamlining is to impress upon the people the message of the kingdom.  God provides for those who trust in him.  The people will supply preachers’ needs.  In this way they will not only receive the good news but will also have an opportunity to share it.

Although bishops are the successors of the apostles, priests do their work.  They will more authentically and effectively fulfill the mission of preaching when they embrace evangelical poverty.  At this time of concern for the environment priests could help transform the world by becoming models of simplicity.

Homilette for Friday, July 13, 2007

Friday, XIV Week of Ordinary time

(Matthew 10)

Everyday after school the boys bicycled to the park for football practice. They left their bicycles around the water fountain to scrimmage on the open field a hundred yards away. One day they returned to the fountain to find a number of their bicycles missing. “How could someone steal my bicycle?” a naïve victim asked. He was learning the hard way how the world works.

In the gospel Jesus tells his apostles to look out for how the world works. He says that he is sending them as sheep among wolves. People will try to take advantage of them because they preach goodness and forgiveness. But he assures them that they are not defenseless. As a shield against swindlers they have shrewdness. As an ally against liars they have the Holy Spirit. But it is also critical that the apostles do not become like their adversaries. Jesus insists that they remain as “simple as doves.” They are not to use force, treachery, or bribes to spread the Gospel.

Perhaps we don’t see ourselves as apostles. Still, in our homes we have the obligation to teach our children the faith. How do we respond, then, when they say, “I don’t want to go to church because mass is boring”? What do we do when they tell us, “It’s o.k. to have sex with your girlfriend as long as you do it ‘responsibly’”? Like Jesus says, we must be shrewd and simple. William O'Malley, a Jesuit high school teacher, advises parents to inform their teenagers that Sunday Mass is part of the price they pay for living at home. Similarly, they might say that sex before marriage is always irresponsible because it pretends to show a profound, permanent affection that just isn’t there.