St. Bonaventure's Commentary on Luke's Gospel

Thirty Days of Reflection and Prayer

Bonaventure has many insights to share not only with members of the Franciscan Family, but also with the church at large. From his work on translating and annotating St. Bonaventure’s three-volume Commentary on Luke’s Gospel, noted Scripture scholar Robert Karris has developed this book of reflections for thirty days. Playfully referring to them as “BonaLuke bites,” Karris gives preferential treatment to those passages used in the Sunday lectionary during Cycle C. A user-friendly format begins with the passages from Luke’s Gospel followed by Bonaventure’s commentary on one or two verses under consideration. Karris’s reflection follows that of Bonaventure and concludes with a prayer. Some readers may reverse the process as they are meant as springboards for the readers’ own reflections and prayer. Today Lukan scholars acknowledge many “Franciscan” themes in Luke’s Gospel. Members of the Franciscan Family will enjoy reacquainting themselves with the charism through the lens of Luke’s Gospel. Perhaps preachers will find that old interpretations are new again and can sparkle because Bonaventure has singled out the very best from tradition to challenge our normal way of interpreting passages familiar through years of liturgical use.