Bonaventure

July 15, 2017:  St. Bonaventure, Bishop and Doctor

See 11 connections with today?
Legend below

Listen

For the gospel

• All that is hidden/ Farrell

• What you hear in the dark/ Schutte

• His eye is on the sparrow/ Martin:  Blount, Ferrari, Houston, Holliday

• Leave it there/ Tindley:  lyrics+

• God sees the little sparrow fall/ Straub:  lyrics+

• God of the sparrow/ Vajda:  lyrics, about

• Someone asked the question / Why we sing/ Franklin:  about

• Go labor on; spend and be spent/ Bonar:  lyrics+ (you'll need them)

For Psalm 105

• Psalm 105:  Oh, give thanks to the Lord/ Mui:  sheet music

• The Faithful One/ Schutte: pre-directive Yahweh, the Faithful One recording, original

• Psalm 105:1-11/ Silver

• 2 more settings

Read

• Gn 49:29-32; 50:15-26a  Jacob to sons:  “Bury me with my ancestors Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah, and Leah.”  Joseph’s brothers, afraid, thought, “What if Joseph has a grudge against us and plans payback now!”  Brothers / Joseph:  “Your father told us, ‘Jacob begs you to forgive your brothers' wrongdoing.’  So please forgive us.  Let us be your slaves!”  Joseph broke into tears.  “Have no fear.  Can I take God's place?  You meant harm, but God meant it for good, so many could survive.  I'll provide for you.”  Joseph lived 110 years.  To brothers: “I'm about to die.  God will lead you to the land he promised.  When God thus takes care of you, bring my bones up with you.”

You're worth more than a flock of these
(animate, but it won't fly)

• Ps 105:1-4, 6-7  "Be glad you lowly ones; may your hearts be glad!"  Sing the Lord's praise; proclaim his wondrous deeds.  Look to him and serve him.

• Mt 10:24-33  “No disciple is above his teacher.  Nothing is concealed that won't be revealed.  What I tell you in the darkness, speak in light.  Don't fear those who kill the body but can't kill the soul.  Two sparrows are sold for a small coin, but not one falls to the ground without your Father’s knowledge.  You're worth more than many sparrows.  If you acknowledge me before others, I'll acknowledge you before my heavenly Father.”

St. Bonaventure

St. Bonaventure

• Franciscan Archive:  biographies, original works, articles, art

• Universalis:  Bishop, doctor, teacher, philosopher, friend and colleague of St. Thomas Aquinas, defended/ruled Franciscan order.  See also Catholic Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.  (Universalis also mentions Swithun, bishop, and Osmund of Salisbury, bishop and royal chaplain.)

Reflect

• Creighton:  Bonaventure's focus on the created universe flows from his understanding of the nature of the Trinity as love.  He saw creation as good, emanating from God's love, with God's fingerprints all over.  Creation draws us into God's love by being from God.  We're attracted to it because we find God there.  It, like Scripture, points us towards God.  Today's 1st reading describes a perfect dwelling place, likely where God’s beauty and love shine forth.   What are such places for us?  Where can we discover God's hand creating and loving?  "A sparrow doesn't fall without your father’s knowledge.  All your hairs are counted.”  Remember this when you think God has more important things to do than take care of you.   We are a part of God's ongoing, loving creation....

• One Bread, One Body:  "Trash talk":  Jesus had his disciples pick up and collect the leftovers; nothing was insignificant to him.  We live in a throwaway culture in which much is considered disposable and unworthy of regard:  the unborn, elderly, disabled, poor.... But "all are alive" for God.  Jesus recycles people who have been discarded; he fertilizes the unfruitful, pouring grace on them, even though others regard them as clutter.  Jesus heals, forgives, restores, and creates masterpieces out of the unloved.  Nothing is impossible for the One who treasures and will never discard you.

St. Bonaventure receiving the
banner of the Holy Sepulchre from
the Blessed Virgin Mary/ Solimena

• Passionist:  "A happy ending just out of reach":  Genesis ends with the story of Joseph.  Sold by his brothers and presumed dead by his Father, he became powerful in Egypt. “God meant it for good, to achieve his present end, survival of my people.”  We see Joseph's tenderness when he cries and declares, “I'm your brother whom you sold into slavery… Don't reproach yourselves; God sent me here.”  But Jacob dies, and Joseph's brothers, afraid Joseph kept them alive not to upset him, claim his final request was a plea for mercy.  Joseph weeps, and his brothers beg to become his slaves.  Joseph was so forgiving, but his brothers couldn't grasp it.  Seeing God’s and Joseph's mercy, we're invited to ponder how we'll accept it....

• DailyScripture.net:  "Fear him who can destroy soul and body in hell":  Fear can lead us to panic and flight or spur us to faith and action.  Fear of God, reverence for the One who made and sustains us, is the antidote to the fear of losing one's life.  A healthy respect and reverence for God leads to maturity, wisdom, and right judgment and frees us from pride, cowardice, and deception.  When Jesus proclaimed God's kingdom, he met with opposition, but he demonstrated the power of the kingdom through signs and miracles, setting people free.  We must bear our cross for Christ, sharing his work.  The Holy Spirit gives us power, freedom, and grace to live as disciples....

Dress legend

• 'Clock' tie bar:  Joseph lived 110 years (1st reading)

• 'Heart' pin:  May your hearts be glad; rejoice, hearts that seek the Lord  (psalm)

• 'Teaching' pin:  No disciple is above his teacher (gospel)

• Dark shirt:  "What I say to you in the darkness,..." (gospel)

• White in suspenders:  "...speak in the light" (gospel)

• 'Gun' pin:  Don't fear those who kill the body but can't kill the soul (gospel)

• 'Penny' tie pin:  "Aren't two sparrows sold for a small coin?" (gospel)

• 'Birds' tie:  "Don't be afraid; you're worth more than a flock of sparrows" (gospel)

• 'Grain' pin:  Jesus was going through a field of grain (gospel)

• Green, white in shirt:  Green for Ordinary Time season, white for St. Bonaventure memorial

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