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Bonaventure’s Commentary on Luke’s Gospel Thirty Days of Reflection and Prayer 52 Day Twenty-three: Read and meditate on Luke 18:15-19:10 Luke 18:28: “But Peter said: Behold, we have left all and followed you.” Bonaventure tells us: Jerome comments: “Here is great trust. Peter was a fisherman . He was not rich. He earned his food through manual work at his trade. And nevertheless, he confidently says: ‘We have left all.’” And Gregory gives the reason for this: “Indeed, those who were following him left as much behind as those who were not following him could crave.” So since all things could be desired, they left all things when they left their desires behind. Peter also says this not in a boastful way to draw attention to himself, but in the manner of a sage who invites others to imitation. So Bernard comments upon the words, ‘Behold, we have left all’: “You have spoken well, Peter , and you are no fool. Since ‘the world and its desires are passing away,’ it is more expedient to leave things than to be left behind.” And note that it is best that these two actions are joined here: We have left and we have followed you since we cannot follow Christ who is running ahead unless we run after him. And we cannot run, unless we have cast off our encumbrances. Hebrews 12:1-2 reads: “Let us put away every encumbrance and sin entangling us and run with patience to the fight set before us, looking towards,” etc. And about this Bernard counsels: “Peter, if you are burdened down with things, you cannot follow the one running ahead. But it is a profitable exchange to have left all things for the sake of him who is above all things.” And we follow him in vain unless we are trying to catch him, according to what Philippians 3:12 states: “Now I follow, hoping that I may in some way lay hold of him by whom I have been laid hold of.” Paul continues in Philippians 3:13-14: “Forgetting the prior matters, I strain forward to what is before. I follow, pressing on towards the goal, the prize of the heavenly call.” The other Apostles did 53 likewise. About James and John Matthew 4:22 says: “Having left their nets and father, they followed the Lord.” And of Peter and Andrew it is said in Mark 1:18:“Having left their nets and boat, they followed him.” Similarly it is said of Blessed Matthew in Luke 5:28 above that “having left everything, he followed the Lord.” Reflection Bonaventure masterfully interprets the interconnections of the episodes of Luke 18:15-19:10. Each episode helps interpret the other. The very rich ruler does not accept the kingdom of God as a little child since he is encumbered by his possessions. The disciples do not understand Jesus’ prediction of his passion and resurrection since they are blind. The blind man, however, pleads for Jesus to give him sight. Having received eyes to see, the once blind man follows Jesus on his way to Jerusalem, the place of his death and resurrection . While the very rich ruler is blinded by his wealth, the blind beggar sees and follows. While the very rich ruler cannot separate himself from his possessions, the rich toll collector Zacchaeus can and does. He tells Jesus: “I give one half of my possessions to the poor. If I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore in fourfold.” In this intricate series of interconnections stands Peter, who, as the tradition of Gregory and Bernard has proclaimed, has left behind as much as he could and followed Jesus. Peter knew that it was more expedient to leave things than to be left behind. Prayer Lord Jesus, sometimes my brain and heart are bricks. Thanks for constantly reminding me that earthly things, while your creatures and therefore good, may become lead weights as I walk after you. Thanks, too, for the example of the children, the apostles, the blind man, and Zacchaeus. Give me such openness and generosity to you and to your gifts and demands. ...

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