Memorial of Saint Francis of Assisi
Between today’s First reading from the Book of Job and our Psalm response, we get a pretty strong sense of God’s power and wonder especially in contrast to our own humble origins and limitations. Job is left practically speechless when God pretty much puts Job in his place, addressing Job out of the storm: “Have you ever in your lifetime commanded the morning and shown the dawn its place…Have you ever entered into the sources of the sea…Have the gates of death been shown to you, or have you seen the gates of darkness?” The author of this Old Testament book even has God using a little sarcasm in addressing Job, “You know, because you were born before them, and the number of your years is great!”
And then we have our Responsorial Psalm (139) reminding us that the Lord knows everything about us and we cannot run or flee from God. Yet, in a comforting, consoling way. “If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I sink to the nether world, you are present there. If I take the wings of the dawn, if I settle at the farthest limits of the sea, Even there your hand shall guide me…you knit me in my mother’s womb. I give thanks that I am fearfully, wonderfully made…”
These readings that use images and symbols of creation (including us!) are fitting on this Memorial of St. Francis of Assisi. Not only for his appreciation and praise of God through creation, but also for his embracing of humility and truly living Jesus’ call to discipleship through dying to himself in order to live more fully in Christ.
Perhaps Job would have appreciated Francis’ Canticle of the Creatures, as it begins, “Most High, all-powerful, good Lord, Yours are the praises, the glory, and the honor, and all blessing, To You alone, Most High, do they belong, and no human is worthy to mention Your name.”
I recommend reading the full Canticle of the Creatures, also known as Canticle of the Sun. It’s the one in which St. Francis beautifully refers to Brother Sun and Sister Moon, Brother Fire and Sister Mother Earth (easily found online). Or better yet, sing it as Francis likely did, a song of praise.
—Eileen Miller