Saint Boniface, Bishop and Martyr

Title

Bless God and not Oneself

Outline

I have been reading in St Teresa of Avila lately, and I notice how uncomfortable she was when others realized the spiritual experiences she was having or attributed virtue to her

Her confessor had to correct her, for she had not sought to advertise these things, but to hide them, so it had to be God doing it for his glory

Most people are not like St Teresa (or numerous other saints); we at least hope that some folk will notice our virtue or our achievements - of course, we add, only “for the glory of God”

Look at the scribes in our gospel

They want honor for their piety and absorb it as a right, but are blind to their consuming widows’ livelihoods with their charges for services

These were like professional fees for services widows needed, but could not afford

I am reminded of the opposite in the Rev Jerry Fallwell Sr. who wanted professionals to tithe their time to the church and planned to set up offices where they could do that

But in these scribes, the outside did not match the inside

We see the opposite in Tobit and the second part of our Gospel

In Tobit Raphael has been a faithful and helpful companion and advisor and is being properly compensated for his services

But the inside is more than the outside. He is one of the seven archangels sent in answer to prayer, which prayer was the response to a divinely permitted test of faith

He reveals himself and his status so that God would be blessed and given thanks for what God had done, unbeknown to Tobit and Tobias. Rather than thanks being given to him, it should be directed to the real One behind the events.

In the Gospel what is seen is a poor widow putting an insignificant offering into the box - it is a wonder that the disciples could even see it.

Was she trying to display piety? Was she trying to bribe God for some favor? Far from it! Jesus knows the inside: she had given all she had and likely expected it to be her last offering, like the widow of Zarephath in 1 Kings 17 she likely expected to die and had made a last gesture that fit with her previous life of giving her all to God.

The inside was incomparably greater than the outside - and perhaps she did not even realize it - and Jesus reveals it to his disciples simply so that they would know how to glorify God by true piety - and they would indeed themselves lay down their lives

So, Sisters, there are two sides to this coin

We see them in St Boniface who within was a humble monk proclaiming the gospel at God’s directive and never lost that zeal and humility when he was made bishop

Those who murdered him saw the outside, the retinue and the chests being carried along, and wrongly thought he must have the gold to match his authority given by the Pope.

He too gave his all - refusing to fight - and I have seen his skull in Fulda

More importantly, we see the two sides in ourselves. We often want to be honored and cover up our darker sides - perhaps even from ourselves - but we also sometimes want to hide the deeds of God in our lives in a type of twisted humility, thereby depriving God of the honor he might receive for his goodness to you.

Let us pray to God for wisdom and discernment so that the honors we receive without seeking or holding onto them are honors that match out true inside piety and so that we reveal God’s grace in our lives in such a time and such a way that he is truly honored. It is a difficult tightrope to walk, but God is sufficient to grant us grace for the proper balance.

Readings

Catholic Daily Readings 6-5-2021: Saint Boniface, Bishop and Martyr

FIRST READING

Tobit 12:1, 5–15, 20

CHAPTER 12

1 When the wedding celebration came to an end, Tobit called his son Tobiah and said to him, “Son, see to it that you pay his wages to the man who made the journey with you and give him a bonus too.”

5 So Tobiah called Raphael and said, “Take as your wages half of all that you have brought back, and farewell!”

6 Raphael called the two of them aside privately and said to them: “Bless God and give him thanks before all the living for the good things he has done for you, by blessing and extolling his name in song. Proclaim before all with due honor the deeds of God, and do not be slack in thanking him. 7 A king’s secret should be kept secret, but one must declare the works of God and give thanks with due honor. Do good, and evil will not overtake you. 8 Prayer with fasting is good. Almsgiving with righteousness is better than wealth with wickedness. It is better to give alms than to store up gold, 9 for almsgiving saves from death, and purges all sin. Those who give alms will enjoy a full life, 10 but those who commit sin and do evil are their own worst enemies.

11 “I shall now tell you the whole truth and conceal nothing at all from you. I have already said to you, ‘A king’s secret should be kept secret, but one must declare the works of God with due honor.’ 12 Now when you, Tobit, and Sarah prayed, it was I who presented the record of your prayer before the Glory of the Lord; and likewise whenever you used to bury the dead. 13 When you did not hesitate to get up and leave your dinner in order to go and bury that dead man, 14 I was sent to put you to the test. At the same time, however, God sent me to heal you and your daughter-in-law Sarah. 15 I am Raphael, one of the seven angels who stand and serve before the Glory of the Lord.”

20 So now bless the Lord on earth and give thanks to God. Look, I am ascending to the one who sent me. Write down all that has happened to you.” And he ascended.

RESPONSE

Tobit 13:1b

CHAPTER 13

1 Then Tobit spoke and composed a song of joyful praise; he said:

Blessed be God who lives forever,

because his kingship lasts for all ages.

2 For he afflicts and shows mercy,

casts down to the depths of Hades,

brings up from the great abyss.

What is there that can snatch from his hand?

PSALM

Tobit 13:2, 6e

2 For he afflicts and shows mercy,

casts down to the depths of Hades,

brings up from the great abyss.

What is there that can snatch from his hand?

6 When you turn back to him with all your heart,

and with all your soul do what is right before him,

Then he will turn to you,

and will hide his face from you no longer.

Now consider what he has done for you,

and give thanks with full voice.

Bless the Lord of righteousness,

and exalt the King of the ages.

In the land of my captivity I give thanks,

and declare his power and majesty to a sinful nation.

According to your heart do what is right before him:

perhaps there will be pardon for you.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Matthew 5:3

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

GOSPEL

Mark 12:38–44

38 In the course of his teaching he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to go around in long robes and accept greetings in the marketplaces, 39 seats of honor in synagogues, and places of honor at banquets. 40 They devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext, recite lengthy prayers. They will receive a very severe condemnation.”

41 He sat down opposite the treasury and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. 42 A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents. 43 Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them, “Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury. 44 For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood.”

Notes

Catholic Daily Readings 6-5-2021: Saint Boniface, Bishop and Martyr

SATURDAY, JUNE 5, 2021 | MEMORIAL

SAINT BONIFACE, BISHOP AND MARTYR

YEARS 1 & 2 | ROMAN MISSAL | LECTIONARY

From Saturday of the 9th Week in Ordinary Time

First Reading Tobit 12:1, 5–15, 20

Response Tobit 13:1b

Psalm Tobit 13:2, 6e

Gospel Acclamation Matthew 5:3

Gospel Mark 12:38–44

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