How determined should Francis' spiritual children, be then to regain possession of this little chapel if it is ever taken from us? If thrown out the door, we must come back in through other doors! If the doors are all locked then we must come in through the windows. If those are made impassible then . . . look for a chimney, vent holes or . . . any hole or crack you might be able to force yourself through! Finally, if it is all closed up then - like in the Gospel story - a hole must be made in the roof to get in! Though my tone is somewhat humorous, Francis was completely serious about how hard the brothers should try to regain possession of the Portincula (if ever taken from us) no matter what it might cost us!
Francis had good reasons for wanting the brothers to retain this 'little Portion'. It was 'holy' since it is 'God's abode', God's home. Remember that holy means - that which is set apart by God for His divine and eternal plans based on love. If the holy God lives there then EVERYTHING in it is also holy because God is using for His good and 'holy' purposes.
When we visit someone at their home we don't think about the house so much as about the person who lives there. We look at their things and think about what they tell us about the person. Francis looked at the Portincula in a similar way but even with greater intensity since it was not only the place where God lived but where He lived WITH Francis and the brothers! This was their 'home'. Francis saw everything in the Chapel, as in all churches, as a sign of God's love for the world but, when it came to the Portincula, he saw all of these signs as proof of God's infinite love FOR HIM and all of the brothers. Hadn't God done amazingly generous and wonderful things for them in that place?!
"Here, when we were few, the most high increased us". Francis remembers how there were very few brothers but how, in just a few years, God added thousands to the community - so many that they all couldn't fit into the tiny chapel anymore!
But even more importantly, God released the power of His love in the hearts and lives of those in the brotherhood - giving them Light. God 'enlightened the hearts of His poor with His wisdom'. He gave the brothers, who were 'poor in spirit', so ignorant and simple, the Light to understand the deep mysteries of God - His eternal plans - of goodness and love. This 'wisdom', powered by faith, was a 'light that shines in darkness' and allowed the brothers to receive the power and wisdom of Christ and so know God's wonderful and glorious will for their lives.
However, the most important gift of God was how He 'inflamed our wills with the fire of His love'. God's profound and absolute love so inflamed their desire for Him that they put the whole force of their wills into seeking, knowing, loving and serving Him. This fire of God's love was fervently intense, all consuming, and compellingly drove them . . . to Love, to God. This fire of love purified and transformed them into living flames of love. Alleluia!
God accomplished these great works of love and grace in the Portincula through simple, holy and fervent . . . PRAYER. The brothers filled the chapel to the rafters with prayers! That is why Francis said, 'Whoever prays there with a heart filled with devotion will obtain what he is asking'. All the blessings God poured upon them was the proof that He not only heard but granted ALL of their fervent prayers. God's power, light, life and love was released into the hearts and lives of the brothers in prayer, and, through God's work of love that transformed their lives, this power and love of God transformed Assisi, Rome, Italy and . . . the world!
However, because God in His goodness was so generous in giving grace in answer to prayer in that place, those who were resistant and selfish in their dealings with God, had to bear the consequences. Jesus said "To whom much is given, much is required." God expects a return on His gifts in the sense that He wants us to be open to receiving them and allowing them to change our hearts, minds and lives. Francis, in recalling what he had seen happen to others, said those 'who offend here will be more heavily punished'. Jesus told His disciples to not 'throw your pearls before swine.' If He told us not to do that then, of course, HE won't do it! If we prove ourselves willfully ignorant, arrogant and proud in our hard-heartedness, and clueless as to the value of the gifts God offers us - proving we are spiritual 'pigs' - He will not only take those gifts away from us but refuse to give us more in the future. He also said, "The servant who has not even begun to prepare to do the work assigned to him shall receive many strokes of the whip." We can be sure that, in addition we will find ourselves, at the judgment, suffering terribly under God's whip of justice!
It was for all of these (good) reasons that Francis said, 'Therefore, regard this place of God's dwelling as worthy of all honor;' Jesus said, "When you honor the Temple of God, You are honoring Him who lives there." Francis wanted his brothers to treat with loving respect and great tenderness the Chapel of the Portincula because, in doing so, they would actually be honoring God who lives and does such great works of grace there.
Francis concludes by pointing out the way this 'honoring' of God should take place. He said, 'and with all of your heart, with a voice of exultation and praise, give thanks to God''. The brothers were to, WHOLE-HEARTEDLY raise their voices and give honor, praise and thanks to the living God, our heavenly Father - Abba! Just as the brothers found God and received His blessings through prayer at the Portincula, they were to give to God the 'fruit of their lips', words flowing from hearts filled with gratitude, of praise and thanks for His goodness. The rafters should vibrate, the walls shake, the windows rattle, at the sound of their singing and praising of God. And if thanks is given silently, the temple of their hearts should throb with gratitude and overflow with heart-felt prayers of thanks, 'for this is both reasonable and right for us to do', St. Paul said.
All Churches are the 'abodes' of God just like all houses are made to serve the purpose of providing shelter to those who live there. However, the Portincula is not just a 'house' of God for Franciscan's. It is OUR HOME that we share with God. Because of what God has done, our long history as a special people of God that began there, we should love and honor God there more than at other places. Those who are able to visit the Portincula during their lives should do so so as to receive the blessings of God and our father Francis that can only be found there. However, wherever we are and especially whenever we gather as a family (fraternity meetings, etc.) let us never forget to pray fervently for each other and NEVER neglect to give God praise, worship, honor and thanks for His goodness to us - His poor little ones.
PRAYER: Lord God, over 800 years ago You gave the poor little man, Francis of Assisi, the 'little Portion' and allowed him to find You there, to hear Your voice. He loved this little place for it was a gift from Your gentle and generous hand. Help us to be able to receive this gift (by truly honoring it in our hearts) and to honor and serve You there as our father Francis did. However, wherever we are, let us fervently seek You in prayer and be just as fervent in showing our love and appreciation for You and Your gifts by rendering You the thanks and praise You deserve. You are so wonderful, so good, so faithful in Your love, that You deserve all our hearts, our lives, our love and our thanks, forever and ever. Amen.
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