St. Francis and Me

   I have been reading again, Chasing Francis, by Ian Cron, a book of one man's journey into the land and life of St. Francis of Assisi. Written for our contemporary time, it has been a challenge for me to look at my life and see how much it differs from the calling of this saint from the 13th century. The principles that God gives him to live out are surely applicable to my life today, but they sure seem radical in our American culture.

   This fictional story is not about St. Francis per se, it is looking at this monk through the eyes of a 21st century evangelical pastor, and the crises of faith that ensues. It is this that drew my interest, and thus I read.

   A strong section of the book is about how St. Francis is led by God to live out the sayings of Jesus as recorded in the Sermon on the Mount, in Matthew 5,6 and 7. 

   I have heard these verses, especially from the 5th Chapter, as they are listed as the Beatitudes, but I have never studied them in any sort of deep way. So I began this morning reading these 3 chapters in their entirety, before settling down to look at the words verse by verse.

   I have used and heard this prayer for decades, but never looked at it very hard:

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

   Most of Francis' vocation and calling are put out here in these words, words that are echos of those in those 3 chapters of Matthew's Gospel.

   What a challenge for my life. I know I can be blessed by looking at these verses through the eyes of St. Francis and even through the lens of the 21st century pastor. Even if he is a fiction character, he is not divorced from my time or my life.

   Looking at verses 1 and 2 of chapter 5, I want to begin my study in the way the disciples, and perhaps other committed followers, began to hear the same words, as St. Francis did. St. Francis, of course did not have The Message, indeed he may have had only the Latin text, but here is the contemporary version:

"When Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed, climbed with him. Arriving at a quiet place, he sat down and taught his climbing companions."

   Committed followers climbed with Jesus as he separated Himself from the masses.

   Jesus chose a quiet place, away from the distractions of the world, and then He taught.

   Oh, to be that committed and to have that quiet place to sit and to listen. That is the way I want to approach each session with these verses. Listening for God's voice.

   Listening will have its reward, but it will also have its responsibilities. Am I ready?