Posted by The WORD in other words (2014) by Fr Xene Sanchez SVD – Kinshasa, Congo
Thursday 14th Week in Ordinary Time
During a time of moral, social, political and religious decadence, Pope Innocent III dreamed of a Church about to crumble. Then he saw a young man whose body bent like an arc with arms outstretched to keep edifice from falling into pieces.
The Catholic Church at that time, like other institutions, was deteriorating. It was not saved by eminent leaders and by brillant theologians. It was transformed by a young man named Francis of Assisi. Clad in sackcloth, Francis walked barefoot from place to place preaching the Gospels in its “primitive sense”, in bare simplicity, audacity and directness.
The image we see in Saint Francis is in fact inspired by the Gospel text we read today. He was a son of a rich merchant. Like his young comrades he liked wearing armors and going to war. His army was defeated and he was put in prison. He got seriously sick. While in bed, he learned the futility of his life. Why serve the servant of the greatest Master?His life changed. He left his home and “married the Lady Poverty.”
Entering the church of Saint Mary of the Angels, he heard the Gospel proclaimed. Jesus was giving instructions to his disciples to be sent on mission and his words struck Francis as if they were addressed personally to him. “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…”
Francis thought that he found his mission, the meaning of his existence. Putting into practice the words of Jesus, he walked from village to village greeting people: “May the Lord give you peace!” At first people thought he lost his senses. But his inner freedom and enthusiasm, his contagious joy, his words echoing that of Jesus’ were so attractive that many young people soon followed him. He accepted them, calling the “the lasts of all.”
There was no need for money nor power to change the world. Do you believe in the power of the Gospel.
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