For now we see only a reflection, as in a mirror, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known. – 1 Corinthians 13:12 (NRSVUE)
During the summer, I have generally written these “Sights and Insights” devotions as a series. I have looked at different classic writings from church history and given a few reflections on them. I plan to do this again this summer. I do not yet have a comprehensive plan, but I hope to look at some classic spiritual writings by Christians over the centuries. I plan to draw from classics that I have not read in many years or ones that I have not read at all but have been hoping to get around to at some point. I am not sure how many I will get to or how many weeks I will spend on each. It depends on what moves me as I read the writings. In other words, I am inviting you to join my own devotional reading and reflecting this summer.
I am going to start with Bonaventure’s “The Soul’s Journey Into God.” Bonaventure is one of my favorite medieval theologians. In seminary I did an independent study on medieval Franciscan theology, and Bonaventure was one of the primary figures I studied. Bonaventure was also one of Martin Luther’s favorite theologians, so I am in solidly Lutheran territory to hold Bonaventure in high esteem. I will begin reading in the coming week, so today I will simply give an overview of who Bonaventure was and what some of the features of his theology and spirituality are. There are some translations of Bonaventure’s writings online, so you are welcome to read along if you wish.
Bonaventure (1217-1274) was one of the early heads of the Franciscan order. Bonaventure was of the second generation of Franciscans, being nine years old when St. Francis died. Thirty-five years later Bonaventure was asked to write the official biography of St. Francis. He used two earlier biographies and added material from others who had known Francis. The most important part of the biography is not the basic information contained, though, but rather the spiritual reflection on the continuing importance of Francis’ ideas. Bonaventure’s focus is on the humanity of Christ and the call to concretely follow Jesus’ teachings in our lives today.
The writing “The Soul’s Journey Into God,” meanwhile, is a reflection on a vision that St. Francis had in 1224 of a six-winged Seraph descending in the form of the crucified Christ. From that vision, Bonaventure reflects on Christ as a mystical presence among us who opens the way for our souls to embrace God’s love and into a radical trust in God. The soul and the physical world are seen as mirrors reflecting God that come into focus through devotion to Christ and being moved to follow Jesus’ teachings.
From this, I invite you into contemplating Christ with me in reading Bonaventure over the next few weeks.s weekly can make a difference that will show up in the harvest.