When I was with the Franciscans in my early twenties, I heard or read a story about St. Francis, whose feast we celebrate today. It struck me then and has returned to my mind at times, such as while I was reading today’s gospel reading yesterday.
He and one of his other friars, Brother Leo, were walking together and Leo asked Francis, “What is perfect joy.”
Francis then shared that if he and Leo came to a friary, the lodging of other Franciscans, in the dark and cold of a snowy night, he knocked on the door, asked to be let in to warm up and get some sleep, the door was opened, and they were both turned away. Francis continued that he knocked again and requested to be let in but they were met with a harsher protest to go away. A third and final time, he knocked. They were then both struck with blows and thrown into the snow.
Francis then told Br. Leo that if after each instance, even the third, that they accepted this treatment from one of their own brother friars patiently, with joy, and still felt compassion and love toward their brother, that this would be “perfect joy”.
The interesting historical note that I heard was that Francis shared this story with Br. Leo around the time that some in the order that he had founded were turning on him and wanted him out. I don’t think any of us reading this would agree with Francis that this is an image of perfect joy!
It does match what Jesus offers us in today’s gospel from Luke though. Jesus meets three people who want to be his disciple. To the first he offered him no security of a home, to another he said to leave his dead unburied, and to the third he said that if he was thinking more of his family than following him, he was not “fit for the kingdom of God.” Some more cheery news.
What St. Francis came to understand through surrendering his life to Jesus and his teachings that he and we have access to in the Gospels, is that attachment to the things of this world will not fulfill us or bring us joy. There is nothing of this world that will do so, even family, or friends. Only God will. We have been made by God and to be in relationship with him. When we begin to build our relationship with him and experience his love, then we will start to understand what Jesus and Francis experienced.
Even if Francis was not welcomed by one of his friars, even if he was kicked out of the order he founded, Jesus still loved him and was with him. This is true for us as well. Jesus is not just a historical figure with challenging teachings. He was present in the life of his apostles, again with St. Francis, and he is just as real and present with us today!
The reality of Jesus present in our lives begins when we trust him, really trust that he is present and knows what is best for us. We show our trust by calling to mind what he has done and provided for us and thank him. Also, we can rest assured we do not have to face our challenges and trials alone. We need to ask him for guidance and help, how best to use the time we have been given, and who he wants us to help.
Our relationship really starts to take off when we ask him to reveal for us what unhealthy attachments, to things and people, even those we hold closest to our hearts, we need to let go of. Ouch. As we trust and let go, like St. Francis, there will be some bumpy and emotional moments, yet we can be assured that Jesus will accompany us, and we will experience his peace, joy, and love.
St. Francis pray for us!
Photo: With St. Francis, I believe St. Clare Catholic Church, Palm Beach Gardens, FL summer of 2022.
Spiritual Stepping Stones 