Jesus said that we must be 'wise as serpents and yet gentle, as doves'. Francis wanted his followers to do what Jesus said: be wise in a practical, 'down to earth' way but also be pure, simple and gentle. Francis' concern about book learning was that it might make one 'wise' (knowledgeable) WITHOUT making one 'gentle' (lovingly kind). Jesus said we need to be BOTH! Remember the 'wisest creature in the garden of Eden' was the 'serpent'. But it was him who used his knowledge to rebel against God and deceive our ancestors?! It is the 'gentle dove' that saves (redeems) the 'wise serpent'.
Francis explained, "Learning renders many people indocile, not permitting them to unbend under humble observances with a certain setness of theirs. So I should like to see a lettered man first make this request of me: ‘See, brother, I have lived a long time in the world and yet have not learned to know God truly. I beg you, grant me a spot removed from the noise of the world where I can think over my past years in sorrow, and whereby, collecting my scattered forces, I can reshape my spirit for better things'. What do you think a man starting like that would come to be?! He would really go about everything with the vigor of an unchained lion, and the blessed energy he drank in at the start would develop in him by steady stages. You could, in time, safely give him over to a genuine ministry of the Word, for he would begin to pour out the force aboil in him."
It 'pleased' Francis when an educated man requested solitude because Francis knew that one's salvation (relationship with God) MUST ALWAYS come first and his request indicated that the brother knew what he was lacking - God and salvation.
Francis calls him a 'lettered man' (one educated at University). Only the wealthy were able to become scholars. Educated men were men of 'the world' who expected to be treated with deference and paid well for their services. Francis encourages these brothers of 'letters' to turn their back completely on their former way of life. He knew that their public renunciation of the world (when they took Franciscan vows) didn't necessarily mean that they had fully given up the love of 'the world' in their hearts. Francis tells them that total renunciation requires giving up even their learning. Francis wanted them to throw themselves spiritually naked at the feet of Christ (realize their desperate need for God and beg for His help to become good).
Francis explained, "Learning renders many people indocile, not permitting them to unbend under humble observances with a certain setness of theirs. So I should like to see a lettered man first make this request of me: ‘See, brother, I have lived a long time in the world and yet have not learned to know God truly. I beg you, grant me a spot removed from the noise of the world where I can think over my past years in sorrow, and whereby, collecting my scattered forces, I can reshape my spirit for better things'. What do you think a man starting like that would come to be?! He would really go about everything with the vigor of an unchained lion, and the blessed energy he drank in at the start would develop in him by steady stages. You could, in time, safely give him over to a genuine ministry of the Word, for he would begin to pour out the force aboil in him."
It 'pleased' Francis when an educated man requested solitude because Francis knew that one's salvation (relationship with God) MUST ALWAYS come first and his request indicated that the brother knew what he was lacking - God and salvation.
Francis calls him a 'lettered man' (one educated at University). Only the wealthy were able to become scholars. Educated men were men of 'the world' who expected to be treated with deference and paid well for their services. Francis encourages these brothers of 'letters' to turn their back completely on their former way of life. He knew that their public renunciation of the world (when they took Franciscan vows) didn't necessarily mean that they had fully given up the love of 'the world' in their hearts. Francis tells them that total renunciation requires giving up even their learning. Francis wanted them to throw themselves spiritually naked at the feet of Christ (realize their desperate need for God and beg for His help to become good).
Francis used the word 'indocile' (resistant) to describe the men who still inwardly clung to the world. St. Paul said, "Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice to God . . ." We, in effect, reject God if we fail on a daily basis to sacrifice ourselves to Him (give up our will for God's will).
Jesus said, "Those who wish to save their lives, must lose them." We refuse to 'lose' our lives because we feel we are already giving and doing enough. Jesus said, "No man can follow me unless he gives up EVERYTHING!" We think we are in good spiritual health because we are 'in the know' (are spiritually knowledgeable). Each of us argues that "I could not know these things without having lived them, experienced them!?" We declare that "God has no reason to expect more since I am already doing everything right!"
But this just shows how spiritually blind we are! St. Paul said, 'If a man has committed ONE sin, he has broken EVERY law of God.' This means every sin we do commit (everyday!) is the tip of the iceberg because there are many many more we don't even realize we've committed (we're so used to doing them!) These 'lettered men' (and us!) are seriously deluded in thinking they know more than God about the state of their souls!
But this just shows how spiritually blind we are! St. Paul said, 'If a man has committed ONE sin, he has broken EVERY law of God.' This means every sin we do commit (everyday!) is the tip of the iceberg because there are many many more we don't even realize we've committed (we're so used to doing them!) These 'lettered men' (and us!) are seriously deluded in thinking they know more than God about the state of their souls!
St. Paul made it clear we ALL need to repent daily. He said, 'ALL men have sinned and fallen short of God's expectations for them'. The prophet Isaiah said, "There is NO ONE who does right and who knows God! Not one!" St. Paul said that "By seeking to establish their own righteousness, they reject the righteousness of God" - and so are lost. St. John said, "Anyone who says he does not have sin is a liar and is calling God a liar". God doesn't lie! However, we need to realize that we lie to ourselves all of the time - especially about how sure we are about things like our own righteousness and spiritual health!
Francis points out that these people can't 'unbend'! He says they become 'set' ('stuck', in their self-righteousness). They are sure they are right - and no one (not even God!) can tell them otherwise! That which is bent (and stuck) resists being 'unbent'. Regretably, God has a hard time trying to get them straight, primarily because He won't override our free will. If we insist we are right He won't argue with us - but neither will He allow us into heaven since He knows otherwise!
Francis presents for us a 'lettered man' who readily acknowledges that he (despite his great education) has 'not yet come to know God truly.' This brother requests a silent and solitary life in a place removed from 'the noise of the world.' The 'world' creates spiritual noise which distracts us from God. It does this using the things of 'the world'. (Jesus described them as 'riches, pleasures and the worries of this life'). He knows he needs years of penance considering how he has 'wasted' his life (examination of conscience). We waste our lives by involving ourselves in things that have no lasting value e.g. money, power, fame, and even so-called knowledge, all things that quickly pass away! The man admits that his 'forces' were 'scattered', that he neglected what is most important in life: love of God!
Don't think that what is written here doesn't apply to you! EVERYONE is damaged (bent/warped) by sin and ALL OF US must struggle against our sinful nature. St. Paul said we must try to avoid 'the sin which so easily conquers us'. St. Paul taught that the flesh is the enemy within us, made powerful by our selfish sensual impulses (our sinful nature). Jesus Himself said, "The spirit is willing (to do what is right) but the flesh is weak (since it loves what is wrong)." St. Paul said, 'Who shall save me from the body of this death?!" It is the flesh (the 'old man', the 'body') that we must 'crucify with Christ' by forsaking our will and following God's. Our sinful nature is the reason all believers, everyday of their lives, must repent (do penance - turn) and be transformed by Christ.
God revealed through Francis a simple way of life that harnesses the power of this fervent desire to change and gives it direction. It was 'humble observances' - simple practices (the Mass, confession, prayer, examination of conscience, fasting, serving others in mundane 'lowly' tasks, silence, the discipline) that the Holy Spirit uses to purify the hearts of the brothers and bring them to a true knowledge of the living God.
Francis explains how the brother would be 'reshaped . . . for better things'. 'The blessed energy he drank in at the start would develop in him by steady stages'. This energy - this humble, sincere and fervent spirit - would grow in him, gradually, bringing about heart-felt sorrow (compunction) as, over his days, he considered his abuse and waste of God's gifts. Compunction would daily empower him to repent (reject/turn away from) of his pride, arrogance and presumption. After all, there is no reason to be proud when you realize you are an idiot who has been wasted God's good gifts. You stop being arrogant (feeling you 'know it all') when you realize, before God, what a fool you've been - loving temporal things rather than the eternal ones. Finally, you give up presumption when you realize you were wrong all along and so made so many mistakes! King Solomon said, "There is a way that seems right to a man but, in the end, it leads to death."
God, who 'hears the cries of the humble and contrite heart', will forgive this brother and reveal how completely He loves him. God's work of grace, accomplished in solitude and through prayer, will also give the brother spiritual wisdom. He will FINALLY come to understand God, and His Word, from 'the inside out' since God Himself will be whispering the Truth (real knowledge of God) into his ears during his days of humble solitude and solicitude. In addition, the Holy Spirit would be equipping him with the spiritual tools necessary for God to use to touch other's lives through him.
Francis said, 'He would really go about everything with the vigor of an unchained lion!' He would be spiritually renewed and invigorated, transformed into 'a new man in Christ'. Francis added that "You could, in time, safely give him over to a genuine ministry of the Word, for he would begin to pour out the force aboil in him." NOW this man was ready to have a ministry of the Word! The power of the Holy Spirit would be 'boiling' in Him - would surge out of him to bless those who would now hear, through him, the voice of the Living God.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, teach us to always stay in Your presence. We know that it is in solitude, through humble menial service and in fervent prayer that we come to know You. Since we are Your servants, we must learn to eagerly listen to Your voice and promply do WHATEVER You ask. We surrender ourselves and abjectly admit we know nothing about the spiritual life. Forgive us our pride, so presumptuous. Loving You comes first for only after giving ourselves fully to You can we truly love others, with Your love. Be exalted in our hearts and lives forever Lord Jesus!
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