The Sunday Sermons of St. Bonaventure

Sermon 40: Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost

The Sunday SermonS of ST. BonavenTure 430 sermon 40: ThirTeenTh sunday afTer PenTeCosT [Sermon] 1. They stood afar off and lifted up their voice, crying Jesus, master, have pity on us. Luke: 17:1213 . Since rulers and judges are accustomed to turn down indiscretely formulated petitions and refuse to put them into effect, the lepers, therefore, represent a model for penitents. Lest they be found reprehensible in the majestic presence of Jesus Christ, who is the great king and just judge, they demonstrate in the verse proposed above that they presented their petitions discreetly and prudently, for first they demonstrated their most religious nature in a gesture of cautious reserve, because they were filled with fear. Second, they demonstrated the deepest devotion with a tribute of praise, because they were invoking the principle of human salvation. Third, they demonstrated the greatest prudence in the formulation of a petition, because they concerned the weakness of their own infection. First, they had a religious gesture of reserve, because they were filled with humble fear that kept them far away. They did not come forward presumptuously like the proud, but instead they reverently stood afar off like the humble. Second, they offered a devout tribute of praise, because they were invoking the principle of salvation with a fervent cry; whence they lifted up their voice from within, and with evident desire, were crying : Jesus, who alone is interpreted as salvation. Third, they had a petition of discrete intention, because they were concerned with the weakness of their own infection without being shamed by the display; and on this account they added: have pity on us, since we are all certainly penTecoST and The SundayS afTer 431 infected with the disease of leprosy. In fact they were not ashamed to manifest their weakness to everyone.712 2. It says, therefore: They stood afar off, where the religious gesture of reserve is commended in the person who first remains steadfast in humility by deploring the committed sins; second, remains steadfast in strength by overcoming diabolical temptations; third, remains steadfast in perseverance by seeking eternal rewards. 3. First, the penitent soul has the religious gesture of reserve that remains steadfast in deploring its sins with humility. Whence Luke 18:13 says: The Publican stood far away. He did not dare to raise his eyes to heaven but rather beat his breast saying: God, be merciful to me a sinner. Whence the Gloss states: “He stood far away, since a humble person does not dare to draw near, so that God draws near to the person; he does not look, so that he may be seen; he is pulled down by the conscience, yet lifted upward by hope; he strikes the breast to exact punishment from himself, so that God may spare; he confesses, so that God may pardon; God ignores what he knows.”713 Indeed that Publican had understood what Sirach 2:1 says: Son, present yourself for the service of God and remain steadfast in fear and justice. Mary Magdalene remained steadfast in this manner, according to what Luke 7:38 says: Standing behind him at his feet, she began to bathe his feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with ointment.714 Morally speaking, these six aspects, which 712 On Bonaventure’s interpretation of Luke 17:12-13, see also his Commentary on the Gospel of Luke, Chapters 17-24, 1650-55. 713 See the Glossa Ordinaria in PL 114:323A. The citation is virtually verbatim. 714 Luke 7:36-50 speaks of an unnamed woman sinner, not Mary of Magdala. The Sunday SermonS of ST. BonavenTure 432 are asserted regarding this repentant sinner, should be manifest in every sinner. Namely, burning shame, which is noted when it says: Standing behind him; reverential fear, by: at his feet; the pain of penance, by: she began to bathe his feet with tears; the love of purity, by: wiped them with the hair of her head; the ardor of benevolence, by: kissed his feet; and the sweetness of interior devotion, by: she anointed them with ointment. 4. Second, the soul has a religious posture that remains steadfast in overcoming diabolical temptations with strength. Whence Ephesians 6:11-14 says: Put on the armor of God so you may resist the snares of the devil. ... Gird your loins with truth and put...