“The scribes and the Pharisees
have taken their seat on the chair of Moses.
Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you,
but do not follow their example. For they preach
but they do not practice.
Matthew 23:1-12
The gospel today talks about the failures of leadership from the Scribes and the Pharisees. This is a perfect reading for the feast of St. Bernard of Clairvaux, a true spiritual leader, an effective religious teacher, a Doctor of the Church.
Most of you are familiar with the monk, Thomas Merton. We have his library here at Bellarmine University. People come from far and wide to use it and absorb his wisdom. Some of you may not be as familiar with the founder of his religious community, the Cistercians, a man named Bernard of Clairvaux. St. Bernard was a great reformer in the Church of the 12th century. He might have died 870 years ago, but his wisdom lives on and it is valuable even today. He offers us four foundation pillars on which to build a good life. He says you must (a) consider yourself (b) consider those below you (c) consider those around you and (d) consider Him who is above you.
1. In considering yourself, St Bernard said, “Behold what you are! It is a monstrous thing to see such dignity trivialized and squandered!” The first foundation stone on which to build a successful life is a passionate commitment to personal excellence – becoming the best version of yourself that you can create with God’s help. I learned a little maxim in Latin many years ago which I have found to be so true. “Nemo dat quad non habet” “One cannot give what one does not have.” Jesus said, “A bad tree cannot bear good fruit.” St. Francis de Sales said, “Be who you are be that well!” In practical terms, if you are going to marry, be good at it, be a fabulous partner or don’t get married! If you are going to have kids, be good at it, be a tremendous parent or don’t have them! If you are going to go into public service, be good at it, be transparent, honest and self-giving or don’t get into it at all! If you are going to a priest, get serious about it or don’t get ordained! Be who you say you are! Be a person of integrity. Do the right thing even when no one is looking!
2. In considering those below you, you must never forget that the gifts you have been given have been given to you, not just for your own good and personal benefit, but for the good of those you are called to serve! The second foundation stone on which to build a successful life is a passionate commitment to vocational excellence, to be the very best you can be at what you do! This means a lifelong commitment to honing your skills, to deepening your respect and reverence for those under your charge and to always trying to lift the vision of others to higher sights, their performance to a higher standard and their personalities beyond their normal limitations.
3. In considering those around you, take stock of those with whom you surround yourself! The third foundation stone on which to build a successful life is to choose your friends and associates wisely. Many people do not realize the impact the type of people they surround themselves with has on their well-being. The people you surround yourself with will either lift you up or bring you down, support you or criticize you, motivate you or drain you. By developing relationships with those committed to constant improvement and the pursuit of the best that life has to offer, you will have plenty of company on your path to the top of whatever mountain you seek to climb. Surround yourself with people of integrity and quality.
4. Last of all, in considering Him who is above you, never forget where you came from and where you are going. You have not always been here and you will not always be here! In the whole scheme of things, your lifespan is relatively short. The fourth and final foundation stone on which to build a successful life, therefore, is to develop an interior spiritual life to match your external material life, so that you can walk on two legs, not one!
Dear friends! These four foundation stones, if built upon with care, focus and determination, make up the cornerstones of a good life, in whatever direction you go! Heed the words of Saint Paul, “Each one of you must be careful how he builds!” Remember the words of George Bernard Shaw, “Life is about creating yourself!” We all have the freedom and tools to make something of ourselves even in our old age!
Given at the Little Sisters of the Poor St. Joseph Home for the Elderly
August 20, 2022
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