When a human being says this of his relationship with God, he is either mad or the Son of God. As we have passed from darkness to light, winter to spring, Lent to Easter we have seen with our own eyes Jesus’ right to make his claims. He can speak with astounding authority to us; we believe and we follow.
Saint Francis of Assisi demonstrated the repentance that must characterize our following of Jesus. It is never finished; there is always more to surrender to Jesus.
Francis had an intense and clear vision of poverty. Disavowing all ownership of material, social, intellectual and spiritual property, he wanted only to know the poverty of Jesus. He would claim nothing for himself: neither home nor clothes; neither provisions of food or medicine; neither debts for favors done or rank as the head of a powerful medieval movement. Francis found in owning nothing kinship with vegetable and animal life and both the wealthy and poorest human beings. He made no more provision for tomorrow than the birds store up grain. He was truly an earthling, relying day by day on the providence of God.
As he lay dying he directed the friars to strip his clothes from him and lie him on the bare ground. But the friars refused. There were women present, and not just Lady Poverty! His good friend Lady Jacoba had come to be with him. So Friar Elias, whom Francis admired but didn’t seem to like very much, offered his own habit. Francis should lie on the bare ground in a borrowed habit. Surrendering his precious poverty and his own preferences, Francis obeyed. In the end, Francis must surrender even his vision of perfection.
He did this in imitation of Jesus who surrendered everything to his Father and would keep nothing apart from God.
If you and I can imitate neither Francis nor Jesus in the very specific ways they lived, we can reflect on the stories and let them gently change our hearts.
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.