Genesis 12:1-4
John 15:9-17
Here at Turvey we are celebrating the feast of St Bernard Tolomei, founder of the Olivetan Congregation. We know relatively little about him. Born in Siena in 1272, the son of a noble man, he was educated and trained to be a lawyer. In 1313, Bernard and two companions moved out to the country to live a simple lifestyle. By 1319 they had founded the monastery of Monte Oliveto and adopted the Rule of St Benedict.
At the heart of every community of faith is a story of God’s loving initiative and the response of perhaps one courageous individual or a group. This is sacred history. Looking back at the history of a founder draws us into that sacred history too.
In the first reading from Genesis 12 the Church lays before us the call of Abraham.
‘Leave your country, your kindred and your father’s house for a country which I shall show you; and I shall make you a great nation, I shall bless you and make your name famous; you are to be a blessing!
As a teenager I was very fond the Palm Tree posters series. The images were cartoon-like line drawings and there was often a little gentle humour. The poster for Genesis 14 showed Abraham setting out with a huge pile of question marks on his shoulder. This image often comes to mind when I think faith, courage and vocation. Like Abraham, St Bernard didn’t know what twists and turns his path would take, but the love of God compelled him to set out.
By 1322 Bernard was abbot of a growing community. Such was the appeal of the charism and way of life, that he founded ten more monasteries. Fifty of his letters survive from this time and they are a rich source of insight into his spirituality. Humility emerges as the touchstone of his understanding of monastic life:
‘Whatever is yours, give it, yourself and all you own, that you may dispose of yourself and all things yours according to His most holy will.’
That Bernard lived as he wrote is poignantly seen in his decision in 1348 to return to a monastery, in the town of Siena, to nurse his plague stricken monks. There Bernard himself contracted plague and gave his life for his monks.
Today’s Gospel from John 15 resonates so clearly with Bernard’s life and vision:
If you keep my commandments
you will remain in my love,
just as I have kept my Father’s commandments
and remain in his love.
The height and the breadth of this love meant that Bernard thought only of the welfare of his monks:
No one can have greater love
than to lay down his life for his friends.
That he was able to make this choice speaks to me of the innate capacity of every human heart to seek the greater good. While we may not feel that we have Bernard’s courage or his zeal, we can be reassured that the smallest of acts contribute something to the whole. We have all stepped out in faith at some point on our journey. We have all gone above and beyond when we didn’t think we had the strength to do it.
Today’s Gospel speaks to me of God’s initiative in the lives of each one of us:
You did not choose me,
no, I chose you;
and I commissioned you
to go out and to bear fruit,
fruit that will last;
so that the Father will give you
anything you ask him in my name.
God chooses us and plants within us the capacity to bear fruit. St Bernard bore the fruits of humility and selfless love.
What fruit do you most desire to bear for God?