Born in the Tuscany region of Italy, Bonaventure became one of the pillars of the Catholic Church at the University of Paris in mid-thirteenth century. He graduated from the University in the same class with Thomas Aquinas. The two became outstanding spokespersons for the Church, dominating theological and moral teaching and preaching. Franciscan, Bonaventure was noted for his skill in bringing faith to reason. Bonaventure and his classmate were in time recognized as genuine mystics.
The reading from Isaiah, 1:10-17, for today's liturgy speaks to the issue of trusting God's will and his promises. One of Israel's weaker kings, Ahaz, was warned by Isaiah to trust God in the face of threatening and more powerful kings. Israel and the holy city Jerusalem would be protected.
In the Matthean gospel for today's liturgy, 10:34 - 11:1, Jesus reprimands the towns that had not repented of their evil and immoral lives despite the "mighty deeds" he had done in the towns. Jesus reminds his hearers of the infamous Sodom and Gemmorah. He remarks that if the good done in cities like Capernaum, Chorazin and Bethsaida had been done in Sodom or Gemorrah, he knew they would have repented in sackcloth and ashes. What he is teaching is that the pagan population will fare better with God's final judgement than the three cities mentioned. Why? Because the pagan world was not blessed by the preaching and teaching of Jesus about the compassion and love of God.
What is the message for us today? We know we live in a culture, a society where everyday living of the faith does not exist. We are the living curators of so much wisdom from theologians and prayerful saints as well as the decades of wise teaching from our Church. All continue to call us to trust in God's mercy and support especially in movements of moral and ethical battles. If we cannot trust in God's promised care, especially in moments of trial and temptation, we might ask is "What will be our fate?" Do we actually believe that God will not react? How long can a people play off against his promised support and compassion?
Where can we find peace of mind to listen to the calling of the voice of God?
Fr. Henri Nouwen, "Making All Things New," p 13
