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Memorial of Saint Bonaventure, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
Reading 1 : Isaiah 10:5-7, 13b-16
Thus says the LORD:
Woe to Assyria! My rod in anger,
my staff in wrath.
Against an impious nation I send him,
and against a people under my wrath I order him
To seize plunder, carry off loot,
and tread them down like the mud of the streets.
But this is not what he intends,
nor does he have this in mind;
Rather, it is in his heart to destroy,
to make an end of nations not a few.
For he says:
“By my own power I have done it,
and by my wisdom, for I am shrewd.
I have moved the boundaries of peoples,
their treasures I have pillaged,
and, like a giant, I have put down the enthroned.
My hand has seized like a nest
the riches of nations;
As one takes eggs left alone,
so I took in all the earth;
No one fluttered a wing,
or opened a mouth, or chirped!”
Will the axe boast against him who hews with it?
Will the saw exalt itself above him who wields it?
As if a rod could sway him who lifts it,
or a staff him who is not wood!
Therefore the Lord, the LORD of hosts,
will send among his fat ones leanness,
And instead of his glory there will be kindling
like the kindling of fire.
Responsorial Psalm : Psalm 94:5-6, 7-8, 9-10, 14-15
R. (14a) The Lord will not abandon his people.
Your people, O LORD, they trample down,
your inheritance they afflict.
Widow and stranger they slay,
the fatherless they murder.
R. The Lord will not abandon his people.
And they say, “The LORD sees not;
the God of Jacob perceives not.”
Understand, you senseless ones among the people;
and, you fools, when will you be wise?
R. The Lord will not abandon his people.
Shall he who shaped the ear not hear?
or he who formed the eye not see?
Shall he who instructs nations not chastise,
he who teaches men knowledge?
R. The Lord will not abandon his people.
For the LORD will not cast off his people,
nor abandon his inheritance;
But judgment shall again be with justice,
and all the upright of heart shall follow it.
R. The Lord will not abandon his people
Alleluia : Matthew 11:25
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel : Matthew 11:25-27
At that time Jesus exclaimed:
“I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
for although you have hidden these things
from the wise and the learned
you have revealed them to the childlike.
Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will.
All things have been handed over to me by my Father.
No one knows the Son except the Father,
and no one knows the Father except the Son
and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.”
Message from the Readings
Today’s readings proclaim a unified message:
God humbles the proud, defends the vulnerable, and reveals Himself to the humble.
- Assyria’s downfall shows that human power collapses when it forgets God.
- The psalm assures us that God sees injustice clearly and will restore justice.
- Jesus teaches that true understanding comes not from intellect or status, but from humility and openness.
The message is clear: Pride blinds the heart, but humility opens it to God’s wisdom.
Reflection for the Day
Isaiah paints a vivid picture of Assyria — powerful, confident, and convinced that its victories were achieved by its own brilliance. But God reminds them:
“Will the axe boast against the one who swings it?”
Assyria forgot it was merely an instrument in God’s hands. This is the danger of pride: It makes us believe we are the source of our own strength, success, and security.
The psalm confronts another form of pride — the arrogance of those who think God does not see injustice. But the psalmist responds with piercing clarity:
“Shall He who shaped the ear not hear? Shall He who formed the eye not see?”
God is not distant. He is not blind. He is not silent. He sees every injustice and will not abandon His people.
Then Jesus brings the message to its fulfillment. He praises the Father for revealing divine truth to the childlike — those who are humble, receptive, and dependent on God. The proud, the self‑reliant, and the spiritually closed miss the very revelation standing before them.
Saint Bonaventure, whose memorial we celebrate today, embodied this childlike humility. A brilliant theologian, he understood that true wisdom begins with wonder, simplicity, and surrender to God.
Today’s readings invite us to three movements:
- Let go of pride.
Recognize that every gift, success, and ability comes from God. - Trust God’s justice.
He sees what others overlook and defends those who are forgotten. - Become childlike before God.
Approach Him with humility, openness, and a heart ready to receive.
Let today be a day of humility, clarity, and renewed trust in God’s wisdom.
Prayer for Today
Heavenly Father, free my heart from pride and teach me the beauty of humility.
Help me see Your hand in every blessing and every challenge.
Open my eyes to Your justice, my ears to Your voice, and my heart to Your truth.
Through the intercession of Saint Bonaventure, may I grow in wisdom, holiness, and childlike trust in You.
Amen.
ExoWatts
Great content! Keep up the good work!