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Wednesday, July 15, 2026

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St. Bonaventure


Isaiah 10:5-7, 13-16
Psalm 94:5-10, 14-15
Matthew 11:25-27

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the spirit or darkness?

“Father, Lord of heaven and earth, to You I offer praise; for what You have hidden from the learned and the clever You have revealed to the merest children.” —Matthew 11:25

Jesus rejoiced that His Father had hidden certain things “from the learned and the clever.” This does not mean that learning and education are useless or harmful, but that they are limited. God’s revelation transcends the human mind. Therefore, “trust in the Lord with all your heart, on your own intelligence rely not” (Prv 3:5).

Only by the Holy Spirit can we know “what lies at the depths of God” (1 Cor 2:11). Without the movement of the Holy Spirit, the most intelligent and educated people in the world are doomed to ignorance and even confusion, self-deception, and darkness. Therefore, we must cry out for the Holy Spirit to instruct us in everything, remind us of all that Jesus told us (Jn 14:26), and guide us to all truth (Jn 16:13), especially as He speaks through the teachings of the Church and her Bible. The Spirit will not only put ideas in our heads but words in our mouths (see Mt 10:20; 1 Cor 2:13). In the Spirit, we will hear the tiny, whispering sound of the Father’s voice (see 1 Kgs 19:12). “A voice shall sound in your ears: ‘This is the way; walk in it,’ when you would turn to the right or to the left” (Is 30:21).

Repent of your sins, go to Confession, give your life to Jesus. Ask for a renewal of your Baptism and Confirmation. Receive the Holy Spirit and God’s revelation. Receive truth and light.

Prayer:  Father, I accept Your grace to stifle my carnal desires and be stirred up in the Spirit (see Gal 5:17).

Promise:  “Judgment shall again be with justice, and all the upright of heart shall follow it.” —Ps 94:15

Praise:  It was written of St. Bonaventure that “whoever came to know him was drawn to a deep love of him.”

Reference:  (For a related teaching on Power in the Spirit, listen to, download or order AV 64-1 or V 64 on our website.)

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