+ St. Thomas Aquinas was one of the greatest and most influential theologians of all time. Living in the thirteenth century, Thomas was placed in the Benedictine Monastery of Monte Casino at the age of five, for his education. He was a excellent student from the start, as well as a virtuous young man. At the age of seventeen he decided to become a Dominican at Naples, but his family tried to dissuade him. True to his calling Thomas remained constant to his life of poverty, chastity and obedience and his vocation.
Thomas then went to Cologne, Germany and studied with the celebrated St. Albert the Great. Here he was nicknamed the "dumb ox" because of his silent ways and huge size, but he was really a brilliant student. At the age of twenty-two he was appointed to teach in the same city. He was ordained a priest shortly after that and after four years he was sent to Paris. At the age of thirty-one he received his doctorate.
At Paris, Thomas was honored with the friendship of the King, St. Louis, with whom he frequently dined. In 1261, Pope Urban IV called him to Rome where he was appointed to teach, but he positively declined to accept any ecclesiastical dignity. He was offered the position of archbishop of Naples which he flatly refused. St. Thomas not only wrote enormous volumes explaining the relationship of God with his world but he did so with amazing brilliance of thought and lucidity of language (a sure sign that he was deeply inspired by the Holy Spirit), but he was also a great preacher. His greatest work: the "Summa Theologica" is unfinished as he died before completing it, in 1274. He was canonized in 1323 and declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius V in 1567. He is the patron saint of universities and students.
The first reading today tells us quite certainly how Thomas Aquinas received the depth of insight into the nature of God that he had: he prayed for wisdom – and he got it! It was as simple as that! Who is to say that we cannot do the same thing and get the same results? The catch may be that Thomas took the time to wait for wisdom to come and to display her array of wares; maybe if we give her time, she can do the same for us! And then we, like Thomas, will know more deeply who God is, how he operates, who we are, and how we are meant to interact with God and with one another!
In the gospel passage Jesus directs us, however, to be always humble, especially when graced by God with obvious gifts and talents. We must always remember that the Great One who is involved here is God, the Father, in heaven. He is the One Teacher, the One Rabbi, the One Master – but we have in Christ a direct link to him in these roles. Not even Jesus gloried in titles and labels, and so, like his, like Thomas Aquinas', our greatness rests solely in our lowly acceptance of our position of receivers of God's manifold gifts; receivers and users for upbuilding the Kingdom of God!
In the ways of your decrees I rejoice, O Lord; and I am in possession of all riches!
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