FOOTPRINTS

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily is, “Footprints!”

Today - July 15^th -  is the feast of St. Bonaventure. I’ve always liked his message about the footprints of God as a way to discover God. So that’s what I would like to preach about today: footprints.

Last week I was at lunch with a group of priests and someone mentioned St. Bonaventure’s feast was coming up next Monday.  That’s today. This one guy mentioned that what grabbed him most about St. Bonaventure was the “What if’s....” God knows the “what if’s of our life” - the things that didn’t happen. What if I married so and so instead of so and so?  What if so and so didn’t die - and lived? What would have happened for the rest of history because of that person  - and on and on and on? What if…..?

I didn’t remember hearing that when we were taught the theology of St. Bonaventure. I've never really thought about that. So it will have to go into my future homework to be done file.

FOOTPRINTS

What stands out for me about Bonaventure is his writings about footprints.

In his book, Journey of the Mind to God, he has 3 ways one journeys to God. The first way is the footprints. They tell us that someone was on the beach. Well creation is God's footprint! The second way is us human beings. We have a mind and we can reason. We are different from the animals. This can lead us to realize we are created in the image and likeness of God - because we can reason and figure. The third way is abstract. It’s going beyond the physical - to metaPHYSICAL - to the being of God.

I like #1. It’s the most obvious. I was never good in logic or metaphysics or the abstract. I’ve seen footprints.

If there are footprints in the snow or the sand, I know someone was there.

If there is a heart carved into a tree with the initials J.L loves B.K. then we know someone was there.

If there is graffiti on a  highway overpass, someone with a spray paint can was there.

It there is trouble, there are people around - as we heard in today’s first reading from Exodus 1: 8-14, 22 - as well as in today’s gospel from Matthew 10: 34-11, 1, with the family anger in the lives of peoplel in the early church when people became Christians - causing fights in the family.

So we see effects. They tell us that something caused them. St. Bonaventure says we are surrounded by the footprints of God. 

To me, the two most famous footprint stories are that of Robinson Crusoe and that of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landing on the moon.

So if anyone has doubts about God - or doesn’t believe in God - point to the Moon or the stars and if they don’t believe in God as a creator then don’t bother arguing or discussing this with them. It’s tough putting graffiti on a highway overpass, but people do it. Who put the stars up there - as well as a moon to land on?

What I like about the Robinson Crusoe story is that Daniel Defoe points out how Robinson changed as a result of that footprint. First it was fear - big time fear - making his castle stronger.  He meditates on fear and hope, love and hate, life. Then his life changes when he brings another person into his life - Friday - even though he treats him as an inferior.

CONCLUSION

To me people change when another - a spouse - a child - children - enters into one's life.

God’s fingerprints, footprints, markings are everywhere.  We can bring this God into our story - into our life. 

This could cause panic. Maybe people intuitively reject allowing God into their way of seeing life, because they think He’s going to be a downer when it comes to life. They are right in that God can bring change and new life.

If you are into the babysitting world or caring for children, tell them about God - and go by way of footprints - that God is here.

Talk to kids. Point out the beauty of sunsets, sunrises, waves and lakes and rivers and monarch butterflies - eagles and owls - nests and mountain caves - they all tell us of the wonder of God.

Pray: Open up our eyes O Lord - to see your footsteps everywhere.