My dear parishioners, today we celebrate the great and beloved saint, St. Francis of Assisi , a man who lived the Gospel with incredible lit...
My dear parishioners, today we celebrate the great and beloved saint, St. Francis of Assisi, a man who lived the Gospel with incredible literalness and joy. His life and our readings today teach us three connected words: Poverty, Peace, and Power.
First, Poverty. St. Francis famously stripped himself of his rich clothes to embrace radical evangelical poverty. The Gospel speaks of the "little ones" to whom the mysteries of the Kingdom are revealed. This poverty of spirit is a necessary condition for greatness. It’s not just about money; it's about humility and detachment from worldly pride. St. Francis reminds us that true riches are found only in Christ.
Second, Peace. St. Francis of Assisi is perhaps the world’s greatest symbol of peace. He greeted everyone with "Pace e Bene" ("Peace and Good"). He sought peace between the Church and the Sultan, and even between the town of Gubbio and a fearsome wolf. The First Reading is a message of comfort and a promise of lasting peace and salvation for those who return to the Lord. We are called to be instruments of God’s peace in a fractured world, just as St. Francis was.
Finally, Power. The seventy-two disciples return, rejoicing that even the devils submit to their name. They had experienced God’s power working through them. St. Francis, too, wielded immense spiritual power—not through military might or wealth, but through the authority of his Christ-like life. Jesus tells the disciples, however, to rejoice not in the power itself, but that their "names are written in heaven." True Power is the power to save souls, beginning with our own.
Today, let us ask St. Francis to intercede for us: that we may embrace holy Poverty, become true agents of Peace, and receive the spiritual Power of a life written in heaven. Amen.
No comments