Homily (Reflection) for the Memorial
of Saint Bonaventure, B.D., (15th July, 2019) on the Gospel and the
Memorial
(Monday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary
Time (I))
Ps 123. (R. v.8);
Matt 10:34–11:1.
Saint Bonaventure, known as ‘the seraphic doctor’ was
born at Bagnorea in Tuscany, in 1221. At twenty-two he entered the Franciscan
Order. He was chosen General of his Order at the age of thirty-five and restored
a perfect calm where peace had been disturbed by internal dissensions. Saint
Bonaventure composed The Life of Saint Francis, and also assisted at the
translation of the relics of Saint Anthony of Padua. Pope Gregory X made him a
Cardinal and Bishop of Albano. He died at the Second Council of Lyons on 15th
July, 1274.[1]
Saint Bonaventure was canonised on 14th April, 1482 by Pope Sixtus
IV and declared a Doctor of the Church in the year 1588 by Pope Sixtus V.[2]
Topic: ‘Not Peace, but a Sword’.
Today’s gospel is made up of two major sections – What Jesus brought
(Matt 10:34-39) and His teaching on
rewards (Matt 10:40-42). In the
first section, Jesus addressed His disciples,
Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I
have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against
his father, and daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her
mother-in-law; and one’s foes will be members of one’s own household.
Often some interpret this passage as a call to declare war on
everybody. Yet He also commanded us to “be at peace with one another” (Mk 9:50). Again, “...Love your enemies
and pray for those who persecute you” (Matt
5:44; Lk 6:27). And again, “Blessed are you when men hate you, and when
they exclude you and revile you, and cast out your name as evil, on account of
the Son of man” (Lk 6:22).
Whoever is following God must be ready for the world’s hatred
and not he/she hating the world. We do not belong to the world, cf. Jn 15:18-19.
Bible
Reading: Lk 6:27-36.
Thought for today: Friendship with the world is enmity with God (Jas 4:4).
Let us pray: Lord, give us the grace to stand
firm doing your will regardless of the stand of the world – Amen.
Saint Bonaventure – Pray for us.
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