Francis suffers at his father's hand for Christ

The Path of Christ (the Way of the Cross) rises up to meet the young man!

After several months of avoiding the company of men and seeking the face of God in deserted places, the townspeople were thinking that Francis may have lost his mind! His parents, too, were concerned. Francis was neglecting his work in the family business as well as not spending very much time with his family. He wasn't sleeping, came home (when he came home at all!) filthy (from his labor repairing the church), was out at all hours, wasn't eating (he was often fasting) and was always exhausted, as well!

It is reasonable that his parents would want to talk to him. However, it appears he had little to say (there is no record) but, being an honest young man, probably replied that he was praying, seeking God - helping out at the church. His father, Pietro Bernadone, seeing the weird behavior of his son (rebuilding a broken down church all day, every day, being just part of it!), worried about Francis' health and appearance and finally, seeing what the worry was doing to his dear wife, Pica, - HAD HAD ENOUGH!

His father thought, harsher measures might be called for if talking to Francis would not accomplish anything. Thereafter, his father grabbed Francis and locked him up! It appears he locked him up several times (his mother, Pica, always coming to the rescue and letting him out). Francis was always recaptured (he periodically came home to eat and sometimes, sleep - when he did eat and sleep!) so, in anger, frustration and fear, his father probably decided to "Knock some sense into him!" He let Francis know of his displeasure in no uncertain terms! What was Francis' response?

"Here I am. I do not mind your locking me up or beating me. I am glad to suffer any evil at all in the name of Christ"

Francis was 'willing'. He would not hide his body from the blows his father was inflicting in the same way that he was not afraid to put his body to hard labor, repairing the crumbling church. He was whole-hearted in his willingness (enthusiasm?) to both work for the Lord and to suffer for Him!

What would bother the 'average' man doesn't bother this young man. Who minds getting beaten? Most of us would not only say, "I mind!", but would say it loudly, prepared to either run and hide or to stand up and fight back. However, Francis was an 'average' man - an average man touched by the love and power of God!

His last words above are, of course, the most inspiring! He says he is, "Glad"! How shocked his father must have been, his hand still raised to strike, when he said this! How shocked we are! How can you be 'glad' about being beaten and locked up!? His father must have experienced some despair as he concluded, "My son IS mad?" His father, looking into his son's eyes, saw a determination and fearlessness that must have stopped him in his tracks! Francis says he is glad to 'suffer any evil at all' for Christ, showing there is no limit to the pain and privation his father could heap on him that he would not willingly endure because of his love for Jesus. It appears that his father was stopped for just a moment before he resumed the beating. It also appears there already had been some beatings and more were to follow in coming days!

Why is Francis so extreme? What possessed this simple young man? It was the very love of God. Francis had, at the forefront of his mind, the suffering that Jesus had gone through for him - his passion, torture and execution on the cross. He knew that, because of Jesus' perfect love for him, Jesus was glad to suffer in this way - to give Francis (and all of us!) a new life (and the hope of eternal life). If Jesus could go through so much for love of Francis, Francis 'little' suffering in following in His footsteps was the least he could do to show his appreciation and commitment to love. In fact, for Francis, this was an opportunity to follow Jesus and please him, to draw closer to Him - these were the reasons for his joy! Wasn't the bruising on his face and body an indication of how much he loved God, how determined to follow Jesus he was - how much God had taken over his life?!

Francis didn't seek out this suffering. He didn't do anything (sinful) to provoke it either. He was following Jesus (that is all) and found himself on the bad side of his father as a result. In all likelihood, if he could have, Francis would've run. However, remember, he was locked in. Given these circumstances, Francis opened himself up in faith to the experience and 'offered ' up the pain he suffered to Jesus - a kiss of love.

How committed are we to Christ? Do we follow Him (in the way of the cross) when things get rough, when others falsely accuse and abuse us? Remember Jesus' words on the Sermon on the Mount about turning the other cheek and responding to curses with blessings? However, we can't 'take it' if someone cuts us off on the freeway or doesn't say 'thank you' when we do them a nice turn! Jesus said to be generous with our sufferings to God by offering our attacker our other cheek as well. He told us to bless those that curse us and do good to those that do harm to us. This is Jesus' way and yet it seems it is a path we have no appreciation for and, actually, want to avoid. We should see it as an opportunity to love - God and our fellow man (who is our brother)! This is obviously the way Francis saw it.

Most importantly, Francis never lost sight of Jesus and the path Jesus had laid out for him. He doggedly, with earnest determination, followed the path that is "hard, straight and narrow". He 'walked' that path by doing what Jesus had done and taught His followers to do: keep one's heart and mind focused on our heavenly Father and the goal of a good and holy life. Francis was determined, no matter what anyone did, to follow that path . . . and to the end. I pray we all will be as determined.