Today, we celebrate the feast day of Saint Bonaventure, a great Franciscan friar, scholar, and mystic. As we reflect on his life and teachings, we can learn valuable lessons from his devotion to God and his pursuit of holiness.
In the first reading from Isaiah, God speaks to the people of Sodom and Gomorrah, urging them to repent and turn away from their wicked ways. God is not interested in their sacrifices or offerings, but rather in their hearts and actions. He calls them to "cease doing evil; learn to do good" (Is 1:16-17). This passage reminds us that true worship is not about external rituals or offerings, but about living a life of justice, compassion, and righteousness.
In the Gospel, Jesus teaches his apostles that he has come not to bring peace, but a sword (Mt 10:34-11:1). He warns them that following him will require a radical conversion, which will even shape relationships with family and friends who do not share the same faith in Christ that we have been blessed with. Jesus emphasizes the importance of taking up one's cross and following him, promising that whoever loses their life for his sake will find it. He also reminds us that receiving him means receiving the one who sent him, and that even small acts of kindness to his disciples are worthy of reward, because they honour the Eternal Father, in his Eternal Son.
Saint Bonaventure lived out these teachings in his own life as he loved being a follower of Jesus in the footsteps of Saint Francis. Born in Italy in 1221, he was drawn to the Franciscan Order and became a close friend and disciple of Saint Francis of Assisi. Bonaventure was a brilliant scholar and theologian, writing extensively on the mysteries of faith and the nature of God. He was also a devoted spiritual director, guiding many souls on their journey to union with God and to seeing God and discerning his presence all around them.
Pope Francis quoted Saint Bonaventure quite a bit in Laudato Si and very accurately observed that the ideal is not only to pass from the exterior to the interior to discover the action of God in the soul, but also to discover God in all things. Saint Bonaventure teaches us that “contemplation deepens the more we feel the working of God's grace within our hearts and the better we learn to encounter God in creatures outside ourselves" (223). This quote highlights the importance of self-reflection and interior conversion and how we can immerse ourselves in contemplation even through pondering the beautiful creation God has brought forth from nothing. Bonaventure understood that true knowledge of God comes from knowing ourselves, our own strengths and weaknesses, and surrendering to God's will which will often entail a consideration of the “other” in my life—my neighbour.
Another quote from Bonaventure is "God is beyond being; He is being itself" (from his book "The Itinerarium Mentis in Deum"). This quote captures the mystery of God's transcendent nature, beyond human comprehension or understanding. It reminds us that our attempts to understand God’s ways must always be humble and prayerful, recognizing the limits of our own knowledge.
As we celebrate Saint Bonaventure's feast day, let us appreciate the depth of this Franciscan’s spirituality and how much it can help us, if we take time to read his teachings and insights. Let us learn from his example and strive to live out, first and foremost, the teachings of Jesus in our own lives.
May we be willing to take up our crosses and follow Christ, even when it requires us to set aside our own desires and ambitions. As we conclude this homily, let us pray for the intercession of Saint Bonaventure, that we may be guided on our own journey towards union with God. May his example inspire us to live lives of compassion, justice, and righteousness, and may we always remember that receiving Christ means receiving the one who sent him. Amen.
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