Somehow, St. Thomas Aquinas—a brilliant philosopher and scholar—has made his way into my life to teach me a thing or two about spirituality. I’ll admit, I’ve fallen down the ADHD rabbit hole of hyperfixation, completely captivated by his life and teachings. His words have been profoundly moving, and his unique ability to bridge faith and reason feels just as relevant today as it must have been in his time. One thing led to another, and here I am, diving into sermons written for the people of his era—but with lessons that still speak to the heart of our modern lives.

Throughout his life, St. Thomas Aquinas was a remarkable thinker, philosopher, and theologian. His mission was to build a bridge between reason and faith—two concepts many of his peers believed were incompatible. St. Thomas didn’t see them as opposing forces but as complementary paths that could lead to a deeper understanding of life and spirituality. One of his greatest contributions to this idea was the “Five Ways,” a series of logical arguments for the existence of God based on reason and observation. These arguments were groundbreaking in a time when people tended to view faith and reason as incompatible.

On one side, there were those who believed reason and logic alone were sufficient for human progress, dismissing faith as a limitation to the human mind. On the other, there were those who saw faith as the only necessary guide, viewing any intellectual expansion as a temptation that could lead to “sin”. But my boy St. Thomas was like, “Hold up, y’all. I think not!” He set out to show both the intellectuals and the devouts why reason and faith must work together to achieve balance and growth. From the young age of six, when he famously asked his teacher, “Who is God?” St.Thomas was driven by a relentless curiosity to seek answers to life’s deepest questions. Inspired by Aristotle, Plato, and his own profound relationship with the divine, he dedicated his life to explaining God not as a distant or tangible being, but as an essence—something present in everything, something that simply is.

This sermon opens with the powerful reflection: “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” From there, St. Thomas takes us on a journey to explore how wrongdoing can arise—not just from the temptations of the flesh, like over-indulgence or a lack of discipline and boundaries—but also from the spirit itself, particularly when it’s clouded by ignorance. It’s a theme that feels strikingly relevant today. We see people pushing their beliefs on others or blindly following leaders in the name of religion, often without any real study or thoughtful reflection on their faith. Instead of exploring their beliefs through study or reason, many rely on assumptions or inherited ideas.

What truly captivated me, though, was St. Thomas’s breakdown of three archetypes of people we encounter in life: The Shepherds, who guide and nurture; The Wolves, who deceive and destroy; and The Hirelings, who scheme and are just out to use you. These categories are not only insightful but also incredibly relatable, offering a fresh perspective on how we can better understand ourselves and the people around us.

So join me! Below, I’ve linked YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts, where you can dive into my full thoughts and reflections on the teachings of this fascinating and captivating medieval saint. I hope you’ll tune in for the whole episode and leave feeling A Little More Inspired.

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XOXO,
Blanca ❤

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