15 July 2020
Memorial of Saint Bonaventure, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
In an unusual display of joy and exuberance—at least within the Gospels—Jesus today praises the Father after hearing the wonders that his disciples have performed in his name. In a prayer that rises from the depths of his spirit, Jesus highlights the fact that although these wonders have been hidden from the wise and learned, they have been revealed to the childlike.
To say that the saint we honor today, St. Bonaventure, was anything other than wise and learned would be a lie. A Doctor of the Church, Bonaventure was renowned for his knowledge and contributions to philosophy and theology in the 13th century.
Does this mean that God’s wonders were hidden from the saint? Hardly. Bonaventure’s pursuits of knowledge were steered by the one he loved and on whom he relied on as a child, our Lord Jesus Christ.
In spite of all the knowledge, skills and abilities we may have, can we still remain childlike in our reliance on God? If so, we’ll always see his wonders.