Monday of the Seventh Week of Easter

 Lectionary: 297

Because of this we believe that you came from God."
Jesus answered them, "Do you believe now?
Behold, the hour is coming and has arrived
when each of you will be scattered to his own home and you will leave me alone."

 A t the end of his seventh chapter. when they could not decide what to do about Jesus, but after refuting Nicodemus who spoke in his defense,  Saint John says of the chief priests and Pharisees, "...each went to his own house." 

Despite the crisis of Jesus, his opponents can still retreat from making a decision by returning to their homes and everything that is normal, comfortable, and removed from the impending crisis. 

The Lord's reply to his disciples, that "each of you will be scattered to his own home," echoes John's remark about the chief priests and Pharisees. "Then each went to his own house." 

And we are reminded of it twice after the Lord's resurrection:

• After finding the Lord's empty tomb, Peter and John returned home! I suppose they decided, "There's nothing more to be done here. we might as well go home." 
• And in that mysterious 21st chapter, the disciples seem to have returned to their "home" of fishing, for lack of anything else to do. 

The Lord's remark about their scattering also recalls his prediction, which echoed the Prophet Zechariah's prophecy,

Awake, O sword, against my shepherd,

against the one who is my associate

Strike the shepherd

that the sheep may be scattered;

I will turn my hand against the little ones.

Enormous events are rocking the world but you're returning to your routine as if you can avoid them; as if they might go away; or they might not matter! It seems like the wrong thing to do. 

When Francis again set out to be a soldier in another senseless war, he was turned back by a voice in the middle of the night, which asked, "Francis, is it better to serve the slave or the master?" 
Without knowing who might be asking, he replied, "I suppose it's better to serve the master!" 
The Mystery then asked, "Then why are you serving the slave?"

In that moment the young man, who had never had such an experience before, realized who was speaking and asked, "What would you have me do. Lord?"
"Go back to Assisi, and I'll tell you what to do." 

He returned but it was a very long time before his question was answered. And it came during the Mass, as the young, illiterate Italian heard the gospel proclaimed in Latin:

"Do not take gold or silver or copper for your belts; no sack for the journey, or a second tunic, or sandals, or walking stick."

According to Thomas of Celano, this was the decisive moment for Francis, who declared, 

“This is what I wish; this is what I am seeking. This is what I want to do from the bottom of my heart.”

He then removed his shoes, discarded his staff, put on a rough tunic, and introduced a new way of life to the world.

But the revelation was a long time in coming, and many people would have given up on it. Francis did not, and his story reminds us we must remain with God both in his presence and in his absence. For the saints assure us the Lord is more present in his absence than we are in our presence.  And far more worthy of our service.