Let us thank God for saving us from the brunt of hurricane Ian and pray for those impacted by the brunt of the hurricane.
In times of doubt, or illness, or hurricanes, we think of getting things in order.
I read about a ninety-year-old who was almost deaf. He bought hearing aids; they worked perfectly. At his follow-up exam, the doctor said, “I bet your family was delighted.” The man said, “I haven’t told them. I’ve been hearing what they say about me. So far, I’ve changed my will three times.” Moral of the story: be careful what you say.
The word of God from the book of Habakkuk describes ancient Israel in the sixth century before Jesus. Destruction, violence, and death are everywhere. It sounds almost like Ukraine today. The prophet cries out to God, “How long will you tolerate this?”
Then God lets the prophet see more clearly a vision of the future. God will keep his promises; good will triumph over evil, life over death. The prophet urges the Hebrews to stay the course, to do what is right, to trust in an all-good Creator God. A lesson for all of us!
Paul in his letter challenges Timothy to persevere in a life of discipleship with Jesus. Why? Because God is always with us, even though at times God appears hidden. The Spirit of God gives us the courage to overcome all kinds of hardships. Yes, Paul also urges you and me to be faithful disciples of Jesus.
In the Gospel, the apostles beg Jesus to increase their faith so that they too can work signs and wonders for God. More, more, more. It seems we are sometimes not aware of the generous gifts God has already bestowed upon us.
Jesus simply says, you already have faith. Now practice that faith. Yes, we too can work wonders by becoming the generous hands, eyes, voices, and feet of Jesus: a channel of grace to others each day.
Let's consider an extraordinary person of faith whose feast day we celebrate this Tuesday, October 4: Francis of Assisi. Francis has been portrayed as a lover of animals, an environmentalist, a flower-child (ala the movie Brother Sun Sister Moon), a peacemaker, a mystic, a reformer, a poet. But who really was he?
Francis -- baptized as Giovanni -- came from a middle-class family in central Italy. Twice he went off to fight in the wars of the region, and failed miserably. Back in Assisi he wrestled with fundamental questions. He yearned for a purpose greater than himself. In silence and in prayer, Francis searched for God.
Eventually Francis gave up “his things” so to speak. He experienced his absolute dependency upon God, and in that experience, he found everything: an all good Creator God who became flesh in Jesus and is gloriously alive in our midst by the power of the Spirit.
Francis initially pursued the Gospel literally, living simply, rebuilding chapels, tending the sick. Eventually he became like a living Gospel. Men and women began to gather around him, to live what became known as the Franciscan way of life with God.
Eight hundred years later, does Francis have anything to say to us? Of course! In addition to his writings and letters, we can see his message in three particular incidents.
In 1206 as Francis prayed before the crucifix in a tumbledown chapel, San Damiano, he heard Jesus whisper: “Francis, rebuild my house which you see is falling into ruins.” Francis challenges us to build up our own households, our parish community and beyond. How? With a lively imagination we can discover countless opportunities.
Another defining time was Francis’s encounter with a leper. Francis started to turn his horse to ride away. But no! Francis came down off his high horse and embraced the leper. Francis saw -- in the face of what had seemed fearful and repulsive to him -- the face of God. We too may want to avoid distressing situations. Francis’s embrace challenges us to be healers, comforters. Yes, just do it.
A third incident took place at La Verna, near Firenze, in 1224. Francis was praying and suddenly he experienced the marks of the crucified Jesus in his hands, feet and side. This incident captures for me the depth of Francis’s relationship with God.
Francis was able to transcend the trivia of human life and focus upon essentials: our relationship with God; our relationships with one another; and our pro-active response to the “brokenness” in our fellow human beings.
So I believe Pope Francis chose his name well. May these events and more in the life of Saint Francis inspire us to ask God to increase our faith already planted deeply in the core of our being.
