Today the Church puts before us one of its remarkable treasures. It is the mind as well as the heart of one Thomas Aquinas, Order of Preachers! For the Church, Thomas has been for almost eight centuries among its leaders in the studies of philosophy and theology. There is no student worth his or her salt who has not read some of or studied some of Thomas' writings, in particular the Summa Theologica.
Related to this feast day honoring the renowned Dominican friar is the first reading of today's liturgy, a selection from the Book of Wisdom, chapter seven, verses 7-10 and 15-16. In particular the first verse of the selection what must have been a serious part of Thomas' life: prayer and reflection. It is evident to anyone who has studied Thomas' questions that God had endowed the Dominican priest with an extraordinary mind. No doubt Thomas prayed daily for the "spirit of Wisdom."
Perhaps we should pray to this saint today for the grace of wisdom and understanding. The Internet, cable TV as well as regular TV, and so many outspoken "teachers" of both religion and politics are challengers to the mind and heart of many Catholics today. The Catholic mind might be likened to the boat that the apostles were in when Jesus came to them walking on the water: battered from one direction or another, awash with so many ideas, notions, theories, so-called beliefs. Perceiving what the Holy Spirit is teaching us demands of us openness of heart and mind in prayer.
The picture above, taken during a tour of an underground cavern outside Washington, DC, is for the blogger a representation of the journey that a Catholic mind might be taking in our times. Let it speak to you as it has spoken to me.
Be aware: tomorrow, Saturday, there will not be a posting. Likewise there may not be a posting for Sunday because of scheduling difficulties. Ponder the gospel for Sunday.
Let us pray for the grace of wisdom. Let us petition the great Thomas of surety to intercede for those of us who might be one of the Thomases confounded by doubt. Let us ask for the light, the insight to know as we ought.
