We treasure our freedom, our independence. We like the fact that we are able to 'do it MY way'. However, our freedom to do it 'my way' is restricted in at least a few places. The work place is one of them where we have supervisors that tell us 'my way or . . . the highway'. Most of us, at least at those times, feel the best kind of boss is the one that LEAVES US ALONE - trusting us to know and do what needs to be done.
Most of us don't realize that there is a certain pride and arrogance implied in 'doing it my way'. We feel confident that we know things better than others (including our boss!) and don't like it when others question our judgment. We are proud of what we know and can do. Finally, pride causes us to look down on others by discounting what they know/do, lower their value (at least in our hearts) because they aren't 'really good' like us! This sin is hurtful to others because pride makes us feel disrespect for others.
A good example of how proud and arrogant we can be is given by St. James who said, "Some say, 'Today . . we are off to this . . . town; we are going to spend a year there, trading and make some money." Such talk is evil since you never know what will happen tomorrow; you are no more than a mist that is here for a little while and then disappears. The most you should say is; 'If it is the Lord's will, we shall still be alive to do this or that." But how proud and sure of yourselves you are now! Pride of this kind is always wicked." We don't like to think of how vulnerable we are, how dependent on God. The fact that we think about doing things WITHOUT checking in with God first, proves how sinful we are. We know that sins such as these earn can cause us to go to hell, if you point out to the average Christian that we all do this their reply indicates they aren't too worried about it!
The Old Testament tell us that God gives us EACH breath we breathe. He could, at any time, decide we won't get any more of them! We are utterly dependent on God for EVERYTHING and yet we all think - that 'WE WILL' do what we want without considering/questioning whether God might want something else. Our pride and presumption makes us fail to think about or acknowledge God's power over every aspect of our lives!
Solomon said in Proverbs that "There is a way that seems right to a man but, in the end, it leads to death." Another of his proverbs says, "Trust not in yourself but in the Lord and He will direct you down the right path." We might think we are right but in reality be completely wrong. The SAFE thing to do is to distrust ourselves and submit all we hope to do into God's hands. We can trust that He truly knows what is best and wants what is best for. We must cultivate an attitude in which we don't take for granted the generosity and kindness of God. We must be broken by the knowledge of our sinfulness and be humbled by the great love of God, who forgives us. Thinking like this is the only way to be truly safe from harm in a world that we actually have very little control over.
Francis knew he needed to submit everything to God. Through his scripture meditation he had learned that it pleased God for His children to be guided by the clergy, to submit their will to that of those who God revealed His will through. Francis, as directed by God, sought out the clergy for advice and submitted in faith to their directions.
Francis said, "From the beginning of my conversion the Lord put His word into the mouth of the bishop of Assisi, so that he gave me good advice and fortified me in the service of Christ. For that reason and various other considerations which I find with regard to prelates, I want to love, honor and take as my masters not only the bishops but also any poor insignificant priests."
Francis says that soon after being 'converted' he had reason to go to the Bishop of Assisi. Francis had become something of a recluse, spending long hours (whole days and nights at times!) away from home in prayer and meditation. He showed great love for poverty (lived as a beggar, for a short time) but also was very generous to the poor (sometimes with his father's property!) All of this behavior seemed pure madness to his father who, as a last resort, tried 'beating' the 'nonsense' out of his crazy son!
Francis was in a real spiritual quandary: he knew his first obligation in life was to God (this is EVERY ONE'S primary obligation!) and yet one of God's commandments is to 'Obey your parents'. His father wanted him to NOT DO what he felt God was asking him TO DO. What should Francis DO?! Francis went to the Bishop of Assisi, to help him figure it out!
The Bishop confirmed that Francis was right in thinking his first obligation was to listen to God and 'forsake all' to follow Jesus - even if that meant forsaking his family. The bishop added that Francis could place himself under the protection of the Church and so, if he was attacked or sued by his father, the Church would be able to intervene and protect him. Francis was pleased with this 'good advice'. Francis tells us that he knew it was 'the Lord' who 'put His word into the mouth of the bishop'. Francis now felt confident in turning his back on his father for God Himself, through the Bishop, had told him what to do.
Francis said that these words 'fortified me in the service of Christ'. Francis was not only strengthened to resist the (unreasonable) demands of his father, but found himself fortified - a place of strength to not only fight from but to take refuge in. Francis now felt free to focus fully on 'the service of Christ'.
Francis had searched for God on his own - through prayer, meditation, attendance at holy services and the study of God's word - with little input from the clergy. After this first encounter with the Bishop, however, Francis knew he had a great ally in the Church in both seeking and serving God.
Francis took a vow of obedience in which he promised to obey God, speaking through the Church and the Order: the religious hierarchy. This vow was an affirmation of the fact that Francis trusted God to bless him in all the circumstances of his life. That is why he said, "I want to love, honor and take as my masters not only the bishops but also any poor insignificant priests." Francis heard and saw God in the clergy, believed God was speaking and acting through them, and surrendered himself totally in faith, through obedience, to EVERY one of them - the wise and the simple, the weak and the powerful. He knew God used them all, no matter their limitations for . . . God is not limited in His power and can do anything, through anyone, that He wishes.
We are all aware of the great scandals that have wracked our Church. Some religious have done such horrific evil things that it is obvious that the devil was acting through them. Jesus Himself had said, "From your own midst sinful men shall rise up, like wolves in sheep's clothing. Be on your guard!" Francis knew that the clergy, like all sinful human beings, are imperfect morally and spiritually. There were occasions during Francis' religious life that he interacted with sinful clergy but these encounters didn't lessen Francis' love and respect for them since his focus was not on them . . . but on God. Francis believed that God could and would protect him and his brothers from anyone (these 'wolves') who wished to do them harm, including sinful and vengeful priests!
It must be noted that Francis made it clear to his brothers that they did not have to obey the clergy, or even the Minister General of the Order, IF they were being directedby them to commit sin. For example, if a priest told you to murder someone then it is clear he is doing something that God said we should never do and so you have every right to refuse. Our first obligation is to do whatever GOD tells us in scripture. However, if the priest tells us to jump in place until he tells us to stop, since there is no sin in that, we SHOULD do it! If the priest orders it out of pride and only wants to humiliate us that fact shouldn't affect our obligation to obey the order. HE might be sinning but but we wouldn't be! Actually, we would be blessed by doing this since we would be showing we are humble and selfless.
We must not forget that we ALL ARE servants of the Lord of heaven and earth. We might, at times, be justified in resisting the directions of men but we shouldn't ever imagine that it is right to argue with God or resist His will. Let us learn to be humble, like Francis, and walk softly, meekly, in God's presence. Let us also, like Francis, have great faith in (love, honor and be subservient to) the leaders of our church through whom God guides, comforts and encourages us.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, You taught Francis to seek out, trust and be guided by members of the clergy. You showed him that he could rely upon You to speak and act through them. Though he was aware that members of the clergy could be sinful, Francis knew that You would protect, direct and bless him no matter what people, even those in authority, no matter the harm they might try to do to him and his brothers. Help us to have the same kind of faith and to love, respect and honor ALL members of the clergy. Help us to pray fervently for the work they've undertaken for love of You. You are the best example of this faith that You gave our father Francis for, even if a priest is sinful, You never fail to assume the form of bread and wine at their hands to feed Your people and give them everlasting life. We entrust all of this into Your hands and pray only that You be glorified. Amen.
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