EXODUS 3:13-20; PSALM 105; MATTHEW 11:28-30
“God reveals his name to Moses” A person’s name conveys so much respect and importance among the Jews. So, Moses made a request and the Lord answered saying “I Am who Am,” – Yahweh. The name Yahweh is a perpetual testimony to God’s faithfulness to his promises. Thus in its usage it conveys the thought that God is ever present with his people to save, help, deliver, redeem, bless, and keep covenant. Whenever we call God Yahweh we are reenacting these attributes and suddenly become confident of his saving power. Similarly, in the Gospel Jesus expressed other divine attributes; gentleness and humility. He says; “learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart”. Beloved, we are created in God’s image let us be like him in all things.
St. Bonaventure whose memorial we celebrate today was like God is in all things. The historian of the Council of Lyons concludes his account on St. Bonaventure saying; “In Bonaventure we meet a unique personality. He was unsurpassed in sanctity, wisdom, eloquence, and gifted with a remarkable skill of accomplishing things, a heart full of love, a winning disposition, benevolent, affable, pious, charitable, rich in virtue, beloved by God and man. The Lord endowed him with such a charming disposition that everyone who saw him was immediately attracted to him.” Beloved, we too have been endowed but we have often sacrificed our virtues and gifts on the altar of laziness. We cannot sustain divine attributes if we are lazy spiritually and physically.
LET US PRAY
Grant, we pray, almighty God, that, just as we celebrate the heavenly birthday of the Bishop Saint Bonaventure, we may benefit from his great learning and constantly imitate the ardor of his charity. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
