Friday January 28th, Saint Thomas Aquinas

Marble Statue of Athena/Minerva, Goddess of Wisdom

I pleaded, and the spirit of wisdom came to me. I prefered her to scepter and throne.

Recently, my grandson, Zac, came to visit from the United Kingdom. He has dual citizenship. Our son, his dad, has lived there over half his life. Zac is 26 years old and graduated as an architect in 2018 from Thomas More University in Liverpool. We had a two week visit and was the best medicine that his grandmother and I could have had to start the new year.

One of the stories he told was when he first started with the his first job. He took over a project from someone else who had just been promoted higher up the ladder. Reviewing the documents of the former person, he noticed something strange. The computer graphics for the building that they were making an energy assessment was for a square building. However, the actual building was round. All the prior assumptions was wrong.

Everyone makes mistakes and Zac did not fault the other person. He simply corrected the mistake, told the other person and documented to his supervisors why it took extra time to complete the project.

I prayed, and prudence was given me; I pleaded and the spirit of wisdom came to me. I preferred her to scepter and throne, and deemed riches nothing in comparison whith her, nor did I liken any priceless gem to her, because all gold, in view of her, is a little sand, and beefore her; silver is to be accounted mire. beyond health and comeliness I loved her.

Saint Thomas Aquinas was a famous Doctor of the Church and he took these Book of Wisdom passages to heart. Much like other saints that came later, he had the ability to levitate such as Saint Joseph Cupertino who lived centuries later. I have often thought the stories of saints who had this ability. The key passage from Wisdom that Saint Thomas Aquinas took to heart, was that he prayed and pleaded for wisdom. I do too. I am too heavy to levitate but I do pray for wisdom.

Let’s face it the only thing we will take with us to Heaven is Wisdom.

It seems from the words of Jesus, The greatest among you must bee your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, whoever humbles himself will be exalted. Wisdom and humility are support for living a life of grace on earth and in Heaven.

My wife, Anna, has a family saying from he Grandfather, Thomas Dwyer, County Roscommon.

“Dignity and Piety make a man look Great. Love and humility make the man Great. “

So the message from our readings for me is to pray for Wisdom and pray for the humility to be a servant of all. Saint Thomas was one of the greatest theologians of the Church. He took the message of wisdom and humility to heart and became great by his servanthood.

Even in simple things we too must do the same to be a true disciple of Christ.

God Love You Always

Bob Burford

PS: Pray for all those suffering from Cancer and their humble caregivers.

Picture Credit:“Marble Statue of Athena/Minerva, Goddess of Wisdom” by Gary Lee Todd, Ph.D. is licensed under

About the Author

My name is Bob Burford and am married to my lovely bride, Anna. I am a cradle Catholic and worship at Church of Saint Mary's in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I am active in the Knights of Columbus and praying where the Lord wants both of us to serve in our new faith home. College degrees in Economics and Accounting. My wife and I have eight grandchildren and six great grandchildren. Love Pope Frances and proclaiming the Word of the Lord in my life! Please pray for all the Ukrainian people. Pray for their salvation and physical and emotional health.

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10 Comments

  1. Thank you, Bob for the reflection. Consistently Praying for wisdom and humility is a must do for all believers.
    I pray for healing for all cancer patients and that the Lord continues to strengthen their care givers to realise that caring for the sick is a ministry. May they know that the grace of God is sufficient for them.

  2. Thank you Bob. We pray for humility and wisdom to be our biggest assets. These are traits we can share with others and hopefully make a difference in the lives we touch. Blessings and peace Mr Burford.

  3. Thank you Bob. Prayers for Anna,Paul, Kathryn , Bill, and Byron (from Canada) and they’re caregivers. Loved the saying “Dignity and Piety make a man look Great. Love and humility make the man Great. “. That’s really something to pray on.

  4. Thanks Bob. “Love and humility make the man Great.” Better to be great than look great. Good advice.
    Thanks to all those readers who pray for those of us with cancer. Blessings on you all.
    Bill

  5. Beautiful reflection! Prayers go out to those battling cancer especially my friend Bill. May they be spared the suffering from this horrible illness. ❤️‍🩹

  6. It is so interesting to me that you asked for prayers for those battling cancer. I am an oncology nurse and also assisted caring for my father, who passed several years ago due to cancer. Before my dad passed, I often wondered why a loving God would allow such a horrible disease to take over an individual. I began to understand that my patients (and my father) TEACH us so many things through the process of dying. While caring for a family member directly with cancer is often more physically difficult than being the patient themselves, it is truly a blessing and a gift to be able to care for them.

  7. Thanks Bob.Glad you enjoyed your visit with Zac.It must have been a real tonic for you and Anna.
    I love the saying from Anna’s Irish grandfather,such wisdom in those few words.
    Prayers for Anna,Kathryn,Paul,Bill and all those suffering from cancer and for those who care for them.

  8. Thanks Bob for another thought and prayer provoking reflection. Sharing with us St Thomas and your in-law’s prayers and saying really help me today to keep love and humility always in mind. Prayers for all those you requested and for Sue and all the love she gives to all those in her care.

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