A HUMBLE “GIANT”
Today,
the Church honors another giant, the Dominican St. Thomas Aquinas. He
studied in Cologne under one of the greatest medieval thinkers, St.
Albert the Great.
Back in his home country, Italy, he wrote the Catena Aurea to help the
clergy understand the Word of God better. This work was followed by the
Summa Contra Gentiles to provide doctrinal material for missionaries
sent to the Muslims. He composed the texts for the new feast of Corpus
Christi (during Benedictions we still sing his “Tantum Ergo”). At that
time there was no electricity, no typewriter or computer yet, so we can
only wonder how he was able to write such volumes. He died at the age of
49!
His life was totally dedicated to the ministry of the Word. It is said
that whenever he finished writing something, he went to the crucifix and
humbly asked the Lord, “Did I write it right?” Once, a voice came from
the crucifix asking him, “What reward do you want for all your labor?”
He simply answered, “None but Yourself, Lord.”
What does this saint teach us who probably have never read his
difficult philosophical and theological books? It is his humility born
out of a deep spirituality. He was the greatest thinker and writer not
only of his time but also in ours, but he felt small before the
crucifix, before what Christ has done for humankind. He acknowledged
that all his wisdom and writing is nothing but a small expression of
gratitude for Christ’s work of salvation. Shortly before his death, he
received the Eucharist for the last time and said, “I receive you,
Price of my soul’s redemption: all my studies, my vigils, and my labors
have been
for love of You.”
If we offer all our efforts out of love and in gratitude to God, this
would change our daily work! Our successes are due to talents we
received from God, which we should develop for His greater glory. We
have no reason to be proud. All we are, all we have, all we do — it is
grace. Fr. Rudy Horst, SVD
REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Are you proud? Do you thank the Lord when you experience success? Do you offer your daily work to God?
Lord,
thank You for St. Thomas. How often am I so proud of my successes and
forget that, without You, I would not be able to do anything great. Make
me more humble, Lord.
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