Memorial of Saint Francis of Assisi
Today is the Memorial of St Francis of Assisi. When people think of St Francis, the first thought is often of birds and animals and care for the Creation. That is part of his legacy. For the most part, however, St Francis was radically sold out to Christ and lived his life in fervent service to the poor, evangelization, and preaching. His life exemplifies what it means to lay down one’s life and follow hard after the footsteps of Christ in radical obedience. Today, I’d like to reflect on our Gospel by offering some excerpts from a letter St Francis wrote.
The Gospel opens with Jesus and his disciples on a journey. “Someone,” presumably one of the disciples, said to Jesus, “I will follow you wherever you go.” That’s a bold statement. Can any of us say that and truly mean it? Pause and reflect on that promise for a moment. What graces might you need in order to follow Christ more closely? St Francis wrote:
“ . . . shortly before his passion he celebrated the Passover with his disciples. Then he prayed to his Father saying: Father, if it be possible, let this cup be taken from me.
Nevertheless, he reposed his will in the will of his Father. The Father willed that his blessed and glorious Son, whom he gave to us and who was born for us, should through his own blood offer himself as a sacrificial victim on the altar of the cross. This was to be done not for himself through whom all things were made, but for our sins. It was intended to leave us an example of how to follow in his footsteps. And he desires all of us to be saved through him, and to receive him with pure heart and chaste body.”
What do these words of St Francis mean to you: “he (Jesus) reposed his will in the will of the Father.” What prayer might you make to the Father right now? St Francis writes that Jesus’ work on the Cross “was intended to leave us an example of how to follow in his footsteps.” What does the Cross have to say to you today about your discipleship?
In our Gospel, Jesus says, “No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the Kingdom of God.” I believe St Francis’ words resonate with Christ’s admonition:
“Let us also direct to him our praises and prayers saying: Our Father, who art in heaven, since we must always pray and never grow slack.
Furthermore, let us produce worthy fruits of penance. Let us also love our neighbors as ourselves. Let us have charity and humility. Let us give alms because these cleanse our souls from the stains of sin. Men lose all the material things they leave behind them in this world, but they carry with them the reward of their charity and the alms they give. For these they will receive from the Lord the reward and recompense they deserve. We must not be wise and prudent according to the flesh. Rather we must be simple, humble and pure. We should never desire to be over others. Instead, we ought to be servants who are submissive to every human being for God’s sake. The Spirit of the Lord will rest on all who live in this way and persevere in it to the end. He will permanently dwell in them. They will be the Father’s children who do his work. They are the spouses, brothers and mothers of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Jesus tells us not to look back to what was left behind. St Francis helps us, I think, to look ahead in hope, to look to today in seeking the Kingdom of God. As you read the excerpt from Francis’ letter, what words or phrases stand out to you? Make note of them and perhaps use them as the basis for your ongoing prayer throughout the day. Ask God for the strength and the graces you need to put into practice the things that will help you grow in holiness today.
St Francis tells us, “we must be simple, humble, and pure.” These attitudes, these virtues, form the foundation for all the practices of a disciple. Today, let us take his words to heart and seek to grow in these virtues. We can pray in confidence, knowing that as we seek these things, the Lord will be pleased to hear and answer us. Thank you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit! St Francis of Assisi, please pray for us. Amen, alleluia!
-Elizabeth Wells