HOMILY WEEK 27 02 – Year II
Respect for Life, Conversion and Contemplation:
Memorial of St Francis of Asissi
(Gal 1:13-34; Ps 139; Lk 10:38-42)
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Today’s liturgy provides us with a triple-header, much like in the world of baseball.
Three major themes emerge from the readings that invite us to respect all life, enter into on-going conversion, and to more contemplative prayer.
In the first reading, St. Paul was “called by God before he was born.” The psalm speaks eloquently of us being formed by God in the womb; intricately, fearfully woven in secret by God whose eyes beheld our unformed substance. This has to be a strong argument against pro-choice and abortion advocates – hopefully they would listen to these words and live them.
This sets us up for the second theme – conversion. The passage from Galatians could be called a third description of Paul’s conversion (after the two main ones in Acts). Paul shares how he was transformed from one who was zealous for the traditions of his ancestors, to one who was called by grace, and who had met Jesus whom the Father had revealed to him.
According to Sr. Teresita Kambeitz, this experience was less a conversion experience, and more an experience of falling in love with Jesus whom he encountered on the road to Damascus. From then on, he would spend all his creative energy proclaiming Christ Jesus to the world.
The gospel presents us with the third theme, within the familiar story of a Martha distracted with preparing a meal and upset with Mary, who was sitting at the feet of Jesus. Martha’s problem was not that she was busy, but that she was agitated in her work or ministry. Mary on the other hand is presented in the posture of a disciple, sitting at the feet of Jesus. According to Thomas Keating, she was not so much listening to Jesus’ words, as she aware of being in the presence of the Word. She was mostly just soaking up the presence and love of Jesus – the goal of contemplative prayer. In that way, she has not only chosen the better part that Jesus is seeking (disciples attentive to his presence) but also serves as a model of contemplative prayer for us.
Today the Church honors someone who lived these values and today’s gospel fully. Francesco Bernadone was born in Assisi, Italy, in 1811 or 1812. The son of a wealthy silk merchant, he grew up with all the material comforts and status the wealth and standing of his family could provide. As a young solider and prisoner of war, he survived severe illness and gave up the idea of being a knight. His life changed one day when he met a beggar, with whom he shared his cloak, and followed an impulse to kiss the leper. That led him to try to follow Christ more closely. Believing his call was to serve God and the poor, he chose the way of poverty. He began to pray more, and in 1206, received a message from the Lord that seemed to say, “Rebuild my Church.” He took it literally and started rebuilding an abandoned Church nearby. His father was upset with the course his life had taken and confronted him, pressuring him to follow him in the dry goods business. Then the famous incident took place where Francis made his choice to follow his heart, took off all his clothes, gave it to his father who disinherited him, and walked away naked.
In 1209, he understood his work was to build up the Church by preaching repentance. Francis tried to live as simply as possible, following Lady Poverty. He preached the love of God to anyone who would listen – even the birds seemed to listen to him. His zeal attracted others and thus began the religious order of the Franciscans. In 1210 a rule was approved, with the pope giving Francis and his companions commission to preach. By 1219, they numbered 5,000.
The women who gathered around his example and ideals were led by his close friend and soul mate, St. Clare. An example of the practical piety and faith of Francis is the creation of the very first crèche in 1223 to mark the birth of Christ, which led to the nativity scene we have today. He used this as an evangelizing tool to spark the imagination of his hearers. That same year, Francis was blessed with the stigmata resembling the wounds of the crucified Christ, a sign of extraordinary holiness and his radical participation in the very life of Jesus.
Such practical knowing of his value and identity allowed Francis to let go of status, privilege, and wealth. Francis knew he was part of God’s plan, connected to creation and other beings, inherently in communion and in love. He taught his followers to own nothing so they would not be owned by their possessions. Francis is also recognized as being the first to teach the earth itself is holy.
A deacon all his life, Francis’ visionary leadership inspired thousands to lead lives of poverty, simplicity and humble service, delighting in creation and consumed with love for Christ. He died a poor, humble and holy death at Assisi on October 3, 1226 and was canonized two years later. He is a popular saint who was loved by all, and to this day is revered as a universal saint and patron of Italy and ecologists. The prayer/hymn “Make Me a Channel of Your Peace” is attributed to him.
May the Eucharist we celebrate now empower us to be like St Paul and St. Francis, respecting all of life, transforming our relationship with Jesus, and spending time in his presence soaking up his love through contemplative prayer.
