“For Franciscan theologian and philosopher Bonaventure (1217-1274), the perfection of God and God's creation is quite simply a full circle, and to be perfect, the circle must and will complete itself. He knows that Alpha and Omega are finally the same, and the lynch pin holding it all in unity is the "Christ Mystery," or the essential unity of matter and spirit, humanity and divinity."  

"Bonaventure's theology is never about trying to placate a distant or angry God, earn forgiveness, or find some abstract theory of justification. He is all cosmic optimism and hope! Once we lost this kind of mysticism, Christianity became preoccupied with fear, unworthiness, and guilt much more than being included in–and delighting in–an all-pervasive plan that is already in place."

"If we had listened to Bonaventure, he could have helped us move beyond the negative notion of history being a "fall from grace" and invited us into a positive notion of history as a slow but real transformation and emergence/evolution into ever-greater consciousness of who we eternally are in God."

"Bonaventure began with original blessing instead of original sin, and he ended where he began."
 -Excerpt from reflection by Richard Rohr.

Although Bonaventure’s insights are framed in terms of Christian theology, I think this has applicability to all people of faith and agnostics as well. One only has to experience nature, the flow of a river, the rhythmic music of ocean waves, trees adorning colors until their dresses fall in humble nakedness, gentle reminders of our own lives turning. Energy is a continual movement towards light, unfolding patterns of beginnings, endings and renewal.

Rohr tells us that Bonaventure began with an original blessing…what a beautiful concept and a reversal of thought from guilt to innocence and from fear to love. This is the gift we are offered and if we accept this gift  for ourselves, we can then share it with others.

Liz Sorensen Wessel

Mandala painting by ~liz