Memorial of St. Francis of Assisi
Reflection:
Discipleship Then & Now…
Today’s Gospel recounts Jesus sharing in the joy of His disciples as they returned from their ministries to the people of their day. Some recipients of the disciples’ ministries were truly changed in spirit; some even had their demons defeated! Jesus reminds his disciples to keep such “success” in perspective: God is to be praised in all our works. Jesus then shares His prayer of praise to His heavenly Father, turning to His disciples to reaffirm their blessing in seeing and ministering with Him. Truly a grace-filled experience!
Such an experience of Jesus’ transforming presence was central in the call of Jesus to Francis of Assisi in the 12th Century. Francis heard that personal call of Jesus and ultimately gave himself wholeheartedly to Jesus by an exemplary life of praise, sacrifice and service. The Scriptures came alive for Francis of Assisi. His carefree youth was radically changed by Jesus’ call; he renounced his personal possessions and redirected his life to evangelical poverty and preaching.
Francis’ life was truly charismatic, compassionate, and loving of all God’s creation.
God used Francis to call others to join in lives of radical discipleship – so many came that Francis compiled a “rule of life” and established several religious communities of men and women. He lived but 44 short years, in which he shared the joy of those early disciples of Jesus, sparking a spiritual renewal that continues to inspire men and women of all ages and walks of life – especially our recent Pope Francis (R.I.P.)! The invitation to Francis of Assisi – and to us today — “Rebuild my church…”
Jesus and Francis of Assisi challenge us to generously live and promote God’s Kingdom in 2025 and beyond. Our world is dramatically challenged by disasters of all types and intensities, by violence, selfishness, poverty and hunger, hopelessness, injustice, etc. Questions are many: Our witness as disciples today? As we celebrate this “Season of Creation” how do we respect God’s presence in people, nature, created things, the daily events in the lives of our worldwide sisters and brothers? How do we reflect in our lives the life-giving simplicity and humility of Jesus and Francis? How do we lovingly proclaim God’s mercy and compassion in the midst of our world’s suffering and hopelessness, to help build up the Church?
Today’s Scriptures, the life of St. Francis, and the example of our fellow contemporary disciples encourage us to say “yes” and join Jesus in proclaiming God’s love by word and deed. May we be simple, faith-filled, joy-filled, compassionate, and respectful disciples of Jesus! May we be channels of God’s peace!
