Who's for the Birds?

Memorial of Saint Francis of Assisi, religious

Information about St. Francis of Assisi
Readings for Wednesday

Reading 1 Jb 9:1-12, 14-16

Responsorial Psalm Ps 88:10bc-11, 12-13, 14-15
R. Let my prayer come before you, Lord.

Gospel Lk 9:57-62

Reflection:

We celebrate today the feast of one of the truly great saints of the post-congregational Church. St. Francis came at a time when the hierarchy of the Church was almost ineffectual in growing and spreading the faith. Scandal after scandal had been taking place in the Vatican and, thanks to the speed with which news spread, the major impact on the faithful was negligible. There were, however, some individuals selected by God to be imbued with gifts from the Holy Spirit that would take over the great work of making Christ present to the world. St. Francis was one of these.

Although the readings we are given today were not especially selected for St. Francis, we can see some of his Christ-like attributes reflected in them. In the first reading from the Book of Job, we find Job responding to one of his friends who was telling him in the previous chapter that God would not forget him (Job) because he was a righteous man. Job in his response asks how such an insignificant person could merit God’s reward. His humility here is almost to the point of being self effacing.

St. Francis too was known for his humility. It is said he even rejected ordination to the priesthood feeling that, in spite of the fact that he had started one of the most important monastic orders in the history of the Church, he was not worthy of that rank.

In the Gospel we hear more sayings from Jesus as he continues his final journey to Jerusalem. Is it me or do we hear a tone that almost seems like he is urgently, desperately trying to get the disciples to understand the importance of placing God first?

St. Francis clearly understood this message. In fact, he took the Lord’s orders to the disciples at least as literally as did the Twelve. His order was vowed to live in poverty. His rule forbade the accumulation of wealth that had become such a temptation for Clergy in the Church at large. With great power and wealth came the temptation to misuse it and loose sight of the true mission of the Church. St. Francis saw this and took steps to insure it would not become an issue with his followers.

It is at about this point we always try to look for a practical application of the scripture to our lives. Today that is very easy given the lived example of St. Francis of Assisi. Let’s remember what Christ calls us to be today with the Prayer of St. Francis:

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury,pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.


O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are
born to eternal life. Amen