July 15, 2021

Bonaventure

July 15, 2021:  St. Bonaventure, Bishop and Doctor

See 15 connections with today?
Legend below

Listen


For the gospel
From Messiah/ Handel (also for gospel)


For 1st reading
    For Psalm 105
Read
    My yoke is easy...
    (animate)
  • Ex 3:13-20  Moses / Lord in burning bush:  “When I tell the Israelites, ‘God sent me to you’ and they ask me, ‘What's his name?’ what shall I say?” / “Tell them, I AM sent me.  The Lord, God of your fathers, sent me to you.  Tell the elders, The Lord, God of your fathers, said, I'm concerned about you and how you're being treated, so I'll lead you out of your misery into a land flowing with milk and honey.  They'll heed you.  Then you and the elders shall tell the king:  The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, sent us word.  Let us go a three-day journey in the desert and offer sacrifice.  He won't let you go unless he's forced, so I'll stretch out my hand and smite Egypt.  Then he'll send you away.”
  • Ps 105:1, 5, 8-9, 24-27  "The Lord remembers his covenant for ever."  Give thanks to the Lord; make his deeds known.  He increased and strengthened his people; he sent Moses and Aaron to do his signs and wonders.
  • Mt 11:28-30  “Come to me, you burdened, and I'll give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I'm meek and humble of heart.  My yoke is easy, my burden light.”
Reflect
  • Pope Francis:  The yoke the poor and oppressed bear is the same one he bore before them:  for this reason the yoke is light.  He took upon his shoulders the pain and sins of all.  For a disciple, receiving Jesus’ yoke means receiving and accepting his revelation:  in Him God’s mercy takes on human poverty, making salvation possible for everyone.  Jesus can say these things because he became all things to everyone, close to all, to the poorest!
  • Creighton:  The God revealed today is concerned with our burdens.  God, who heard the cries of the enslaved Israelites and sent Moses to be a messenger and mediator of divine liberation, comes to us in Jesus Christ, who offers rest to the laboring and struggling.  
    Burning bush/ Bourdon
    In the ancient world, naming something implied control over it, but there's no controlling God, who identifies as I AM WHO AM, not a pagan deity to do my bidding.  Jesus offers us a chance to let go of our illusion of control, exercising detachment from the anxieties and worries that can tyrannize our thoughts.  May we entrust ourselves to our loving and liberating God who remembers his covenant forever.
  • One Bread, One Body:  After Moses brought the people out of Egypt, they would worship on Mount Horeb.  Moses asked for God's name to give those who asked who sent him:  "I Am Who Am.  Tell the Israelites:  I AM sent me to you"  If you tell someone, “I AM sent me to you,” will they understand?  Essentially the Lord sent Moses with nothing but faith.  Even his miraculous staff wasn’t much help since Egyptian magicians could perform the same signs. Power in ministry comes not from having things to fall back on but from having nothing to fall back on.  Will I accept Jesus sending me out with nothing but faith, like he sent the apostles?
  • Passionist: 
    Come to me...
     Jesus invites us to come to him, not once we're confident or feel we our life is in order, but in our need and struggles.  If I don't come, perhaps thinking I can handle things or he doesn't care, I make matters worse.  Then he invites us to take his yoke, a collar made for two, essentially assuring he'll remain close and will carry his share of our burden.  The Lord, who is Truth, Wisdom, Love, invites us to learn from him.  Maybe I'd rather the Lord not see me in my struggles and sin, but he says, "I'm gentle and humble of heart."  May we accept the invitation to be connected to him and bring him everything, and so find the rest only he can give.
  • DailyScripture.net:  "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me":  The Jews used the image of a yoke to express submission to God:  the yoke of the law, the commandments, the kingdom, God.  Jesus says his yoke is 'easy' (in Gk same as 'well-fitting').  Yokes were tailor-made for the oxen.  Jesus invites us to be yoked with him, united in life, will, and heart, in love, trust, and obedience.  Jesus says his "burden is light"; no burden is too heavy when given and carried in love.  When we yoke our lives with Jesus, he carries our burdens with us and gives us strength to follow his way of love, grace, and freedom....
    St. Bonaventure
    Dress legend
    • 'Tree' pin:  Moses at burning bush (1st reading)
    • White shirt:  St. Bonaventure; I'll lead you to the land of milk... (1st reading)
        • 'Honey' tie:  ...and honey (1st reading)
        • '?' tie pin:  Moses asked the Lord a question (1st reading)
        • 'Hand' tie pin:  "I'll stretch out my hand"  (1st reading)
        • 'Heart' clip:  The Lord changed the hearts of the Israelites' foes (psalm); "I'm meek and humble of heart" (gospel)
        • 'Children at school' pin:  "The inhabitants of the world can't bring salvation forth" (1st reading); from heaven the Lord looks down on the earth; the nations shall revere Your name (psalm); "learn from me" (gospel)
        • 'Clocks' suspenders:  "This is my name forever," 3-day journey (1st reading), the Lord remembers his covenant forever (psalm)
        • 'Street light' tie bar:  "My burden is 'light'" (gospel :-)
        • 'Celebrate teaching' pin:  "Learn from me" (gospel)
        • 'Red Cross' pin:  St. Bonaventure, 'doctor' of the Church
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