Today we celebrate the Feast of St. Anselm, bishop and doctor of the Church. St. Anselm was born in Aosta in Piedmont in 1033. He entered the Benedictine Order at the monastery of Bec in France. While he quickly progressed in the spiritual life, he taught theology to his fellow students. He went to England where he was appointed archbishop of Canterbury. He fought vigorously for the freedom of the Church, and for this he was twice exiled. He has achieved fame for his writings, especially those on mystical theology. His most famous definition is that of theology itself: calling it "faith which seeks understanding." He died in 1109.
The first reading today is all about the study of God. Paul exhorts the Ephesians to come to know the full breadth and height and depth of the love of Christ which begins in knowledge of him but surpasses it in the experience of love with him. Knowledge alone has not saved us; but the love of Christ has indeed saved us and continues to save us at every moment.
In tasting love – which begins in knowledge – we taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
In the gospel passage Jesus puts it another way: it is not only those who have memorized the words of the gospel that will be saved – but only those who have put them into practice who will be saved. Crying Lord, Lord we knew you – will get the crier nowhere on the Last Day. But rather those who put the words of God into practice will be welcomed into the Kingdom forever. They will be like people who built the houses of their spiritual lives on rock – which the storms of life could not destroy – nor even the experience of physical death! Happy the people who listen to the word of God and put it into practice!
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