Memorial of Saint Bonaventure, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
This is a great day for Franciscans! We all love family celebrations when we get to spend time with our favorite aunts, uncles, and cousins by the dozens. We rejoice with our Franciscan cousins as we honor today the memory and impact of St. Bonaventure on the Church and the entire world. Born in the 13th Century, which many have called the greatest of centuries, this Italian Franciscan friar, bishop, theologian, and philosopher claimed the friendship and esteem of contemporary greats like St. Francis of Assisi, St. Thomas Aquinas, and St. Dominic.
St. Bonaventure brings light and insight to our celebration today by reminding us of the overwhelming power of God’s love. This is the ultimate explanation, he says, of God’s intimate involvement with the entire human story. The escape of Moses as an infant floating in the reeds of the Nile to the complicated unfolding history of the People of God is nothing other than God’s love adapting to each human condition.
Is it any wonder that Jesus should show his frustration in today’s Gospel with so many people of his day? They were so well educated in God’s law and the teaching of the prophets, and yet were so blind to God’s true intentions for them all. People like St. Bonaventure remind us that the gift of love carries an awesome responsibility. We truly live as an extended family in our common home. What have we done today to pass God’s love forward?
Reflection by Fr. Daniel Petsche, OSB
Posted in Articles for Ordinary Time, Daily Reflections