The Universal Teacher

Although he lived in the 13th century, St. Albert the Great, whose Memorial we celebrate today, spans the centuries with the message of his teaching and life to retain without question the title of "The Universal Teacher."  His interests and writings are encylopedic and include, beside biblical and theological works, treatises on logic, metaphysics, ethics, physics, astronomy, chemistry, biology, human anotomy, animal physiology, geography, geology and botany. He is admired for his recognition of the power and potential of human reason and experience, but he always gave top priority to the Scriptures as the source of human spirituality and wisdom.  What a statement for us today when humanism to the extreme is more and more arroganrly separating human wisdom and knowledge from Divine Faith!  Such a division can only lead to the brick wall of despair and hopelessness, for the created will never satisfy the quest for the Creator.  A cursory look at our world today and the direction in which it is headed, unfortunately, substantiates this fact.  Pope Benedict's call for a Year of Faith comes at a crucial time; a return to the basic tenets of our Faith is needed to repair the gap between faith and reason.  St. Albert must have prayed thus, giving us an example for our own prayer:  Lord, I hear you say, '"Trust in me.  Have a boundless faith in me, and you will see, and seeing, will give me all the glory.  Remember and say often, 'Not by might, nor by power nor by knowledge alone, but by your Holy Spirit will I find what I seek.'" Lord, please give me this humility and trust.
Bro. Rene