Today we celebrate the feast of one of the greatest theologians and doctors of the Catholic Church, a contemporary of one of its greatest saints, and also a contemporary of another renowned theologian. St. Bonaventure was a Franciscan monk who knew St. Francis himself and studied theology at the University of Paris at the same time as St. Thomas Aquinas.
God gave Bonaventure a slightly different point of theological view than the other two – which proves that no one person has it all – and that we are meant to complement, support and rely upon one another to obtain and deeper and fuller picture of anything: even a picture of God!
Bonaventure emphasized study along with working with the poor; while Francis said his monks did not have to study. Thomas Aquinas proposed that the best way to get information about God is through knowledge; Bonaventure thought that while knowledge is the first step, it must also involve love: we find God in the act of loving others.
Our readings today give us the spirit of Bonaventure's theology: St. Paul and Bonaventure encourage us to open ourselves to receive the power and the strength that the Holy Spirit can give so that Christ can dwell in our hearts through faith – rooted and grounded in love – then we can surely know with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth of Christ's love which surpasses knowledge – so that we may be filled with the fullness of God himself.
Those who humbly receive this teaching and pass it on to others because it is a part of their own lives can truly be called teacher and master: for they will not be clanging cymbals in proclaiming their own greatness by the titles of teacher and master! Jesus would approve of such humble teaching and mastering and mentoring on behalf of others!
Let us remember today that we have but one Father: the one in heaven; and one Master – the Christ; all credit for information passed, concepts learned goes to them, being the source.
Lord, teach us your statutes!
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