St. Francis, follower and friend of Christ, knew the benefits of spending time alone, in prayer, with God. After his conversion Francis spent countless hours in prayer - both in penance (praying for forgiveness and cleansing of his heart) and in praise, for God's mercy, forgiveness, healing and blessing. We know that Francis frequented deserted churches, forests, local caves and other solitary places - and this was so that, without distraction, he could seek the face of God in prayer without distraction.
Francis often said, "The benefits of prayer are manifold" when compared with preaching and teaching. God Himself said to Francis at the beginning of his conversion, "Which is the one who can benefit you more, the master or the servant?" Francis recognized that it was the Master, God Himself, who he should serve and not any earthly person and the primary way we know and serve Him, is by interacting with Him in prayer.
Jesus, the Son of God, was always, through prayer, with God. Jesus said, "The Father never leaves me alone for I always do those things that please Him". And "No one knows the Son but the Father and no one knows the Father but the Son and those to whom He chooses to reveal Him". Jesus' relationship with God was intimate and powerful not only because of who He was but because of how He always interacted with God in prayer.
We know that Jesus was perfect, knew God better than anyone (was God!), so . . . why did He need to spend so many hours and nights in prayer? If anyone could skimp on prayer it was Jesus, right? However, before appointing the twelve Apostles we read that Jesus spent the whole night in prayer. Later, after an exhausting day of teaching, casting out demons and healing the sick and disabled - Jesus went up a mountain and spent the night alone in prayer. We read that He would often go off by Himself to pray in the wilderness for hours at a time. Also, He wasn't afraid to pray, silently in the Temple of His heart, in the company of his disciples. It is apparent that Jesus was the Son of God, the Christ, but that He, as the son of man, a human being like us, needed His quiet time with God.
Jesus recognized that the need to be alone with God (at least alone in one's heart) was a need that He shared with all men and that this need was greatest after times of trials or a hectic day of work. When word reached them that John the Baptist had been beheaded, He directed His disciples to go to a desert place where they could be by themselves and He could minister to them and strengthen their faith in the face of this great loss. Also, after a hectic day for the Apostles of healing and casting out demons, He had them get in a boat and go to the other side of the lake, so that they could refresh both their bodies and their souls.
Francis, like Jesus, knew the importance of seeking the presence of God through prayer. Francis said, "If the body takes its food while at rest, yet both food and body are to be eaten by worms; with what peace and composure ought the soul to take its food, which is God!"
A person can be divided into, at least, two parts: the body and the soul. Here Francis tells us that, when we feed our body, we want the food to go down easily and this will most likely happen when we are 'at rest', at ease, while eating. To eat 'at rest' means we should eat calmly, with focus, and in a safe and comfortable environment.
Francis points out that people are very conscientious about making sure they feed their bodies well even though "both food and body are to be eaten by worms". His point is that, even though we nurture the body with the intent to prolong our lives, it is INEVITABLE that we will die and both our investments in the food and our bodies will end up being eaten by worms! We are temporal, the time of our lives quickly slips through our fingers, and almost before we are aware of it, we stand near the end of our lives and must soon stand before God's judgment seat. Solomon said, "Naked from his mother's womb he came, as naked as he came he will depart again; nothing to take with him after all his efforts". And " . . . the dead know nothing; no more reward for them, their memory has passed out of mind. Their loves, their hates, their jealousies, these all have perished, nor will they ever again take part in whatever is done under the sun". Jesus said, "If, even with all of your worries, you cannot add the smallest amount of time to the span of your life, why do you worry about everything else!?"
Francis argues that, we need to be at least as conscientious when we feed our soul - that part of us that is eternal and has an eternal destiny - as when we feed our bodies. When we commune with God (feed ourselves spiritually) we should take our time and fellowship with Him while at ease. We should choose a quiet and comfortable place, where we will not be disturbed or distracted, concentrate our hearts and minds on scripture or other holy writings and, in prayer, turn all of our attention to God, who is always waiting and ready for us to approach Him.
Francis said, "with what peace and composure ought the soul to take its food, which is God?!" How does the soul 'take its food' and what does the soul eat? Well, Jesus said, "You must eat My flesh and drink My blood if you would have eternal life" and "My flesh is food indeed and My blood is drink indeed". Obviously, the clearest example of spiritual food is our Lord, Christ Jesus, found in the Eucharist.
However, there are other types of 'food' offered during the Mass that we can also eat outside of Church. There are Jesus' words, "If you make My word your home you will indeed be My disciples; you will come to know the truth, and the truth will set you free". St. Paul said, "Let the Word of Christ, in all its richness, find a home with you". And he added about being joyful while singing to God, "With gratitude in your hearts sing psalms and hymns and inspired songs to Go" and "Sing psalms and hymns and inspired songs among yourselves, singing and chanting to the Lord in Your hearts, always and everywhere giving thanks to God . . .". Also, about prayer, "Never worry about anything; but tell God all your desires of every kind in prayer and petition shot through with gratitude" and "Always be joyful; pray constantly and for all things give thanks" and "In all your prayer and entreaty, keep praying in the Spirit on every possible occasion. Never get tired of staying awake to pray for all God's holy people . . .". Finally, there is just doing God's will as Jesus said, "I have food to eat that you know not of. My food is to do the will of My Father". This is our food so with joy . . . come to the feast and eat to your hearts content!
Francis often said, "The benefits of prayer are manifold" when compared with preaching and teaching. God Himself said to Francis at the beginning of his conversion, "Which is the one who can benefit you more, the master or the servant?" Francis recognized that it was the Master, God Himself, who he should serve and not any earthly person and the primary way we know and serve Him, is by interacting with Him in prayer.
Jesus, the Son of God, was always, through prayer, with God. Jesus said, "The Father never leaves me alone for I always do those things that please Him". And "No one knows the Son but the Father and no one knows the Father but the Son and those to whom He chooses to reveal Him". Jesus' relationship with God was intimate and powerful not only because of who He was but because of how He always interacted with God in prayer.
We know that Jesus was perfect, knew God better than anyone (was God!), so . . . why did He need to spend so many hours and nights in prayer? If anyone could skimp on prayer it was Jesus, right? However, before appointing the twelve Apostles we read that Jesus spent the whole night in prayer. Later, after an exhausting day of teaching, casting out demons and healing the sick and disabled - Jesus went up a mountain and spent the night alone in prayer. We read that He would often go off by Himself to pray in the wilderness for hours at a time. Also, He wasn't afraid to pray, silently in the Temple of His heart, in the company of his disciples. It is apparent that Jesus was the Son of God, the Christ, but that He, as the son of man, a human being like us, needed His quiet time with God.
Jesus recognized that the need to be alone with God (at least alone in one's heart) was a need that He shared with all men and that this need was greatest after times of trials or a hectic day of work. When word reached them that John the Baptist had been beheaded, He directed His disciples to go to a desert place where they could be by themselves and He could minister to them and strengthen their faith in the face of this great loss. Also, after a hectic day for the Apostles of healing and casting out demons, He had them get in a boat and go to the other side of the lake, so that they could refresh both their bodies and their souls.
Francis, like Jesus, knew the importance of seeking the presence of God through prayer. Francis said, "If the body takes its food while at rest, yet both food and body are to be eaten by worms; with what peace and composure ought the soul to take its food, which is God!"
A person can be divided into, at least, two parts: the body and the soul. Here Francis tells us that, when we feed our body, we want the food to go down easily and this will most likely happen when we are 'at rest', at ease, while eating. To eat 'at rest' means we should eat calmly, with focus, and in a safe and comfortable environment.
Francis points out that people are very conscientious about making sure they feed their bodies well even though "both food and body are to be eaten by worms". His point is that, even though we nurture the body with the intent to prolong our lives, it is INEVITABLE that we will die and both our investments in the food and our bodies will end up being eaten by worms! We are temporal, the time of our lives quickly slips through our fingers, and almost before we are aware of it, we stand near the end of our lives and must soon stand before God's judgment seat. Solomon said, "Naked from his mother's womb he came, as naked as he came he will depart again; nothing to take with him after all his efforts". And " . . . the dead know nothing; no more reward for them, their memory has passed out of mind. Their loves, their hates, their jealousies, these all have perished, nor will they ever again take part in whatever is done under the sun". Jesus said, "If, even with all of your worries, you cannot add the smallest amount of time to the span of your life, why do you worry about everything else!?"
Francis argues that, we need to be at least as conscientious when we feed our soul - that part of us that is eternal and has an eternal destiny - as when we feed our bodies. When we commune with God (feed ourselves spiritually) we should take our time and fellowship with Him while at ease. We should choose a quiet and comfortable place, where we will not be disturbed or distracted, concentrate our hearts and minds on scripture or other holy writings and, in prayer, turn all of our attention to God, who is always waiting and ready for us to approach Him.
Francis said, "with what peace and composure ought the soul to take its food, which is God?!" How does the soul 'take its food' and what does the soul eat? Well, Jesus said, "You must eat My flesh and drink My blood if you would have eternal life" and "My flesh is food indeed and My blood is drink indeed". Obviously, the clearest example of spiritual food is our Lord, Christ Jesus, found in the Eucharist.
However, there are other types of 'food' offered during the Mass that we can also eat outside of Church. There are Jesus' words, "If you make My word your home you will indeed be My disciples; you will come to know the truth, and the truth will set you free". St. Paul said, "Let the Word of Christ, in all its richness, find a home with you". And he added about being joyful while singing to God, "With gratitude in your hearts sing psalms and hymns and inspired songs to Go" and "Sing psalms and hymns and inspired songs among yourselves, singing and chanting to the Lord in Your hearts, always and everywhere giving thanks to God . . .". Also, about prayer, "Never worry about anything; but tell God all your desires of every kind in prayer and petition shot through with gratitude" and "Always be joyful; pray constantly and for all things give thanks" and "In all your prayer and entreaty, keep praying in the Spirit on every possible occasion. Never get tired of staying awake to pray for all God's holy people . . .". Finally, there is just doing God's will as Jesus said, "I have food to eat that you know not of. My food is to do the will of My Father". This is our food so with joy . . . come to the feast and eat to your hearts content!
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, You taught us by Your own example the importance of prayer. Your servant Francis encouraged us to 'taste and see that the Lord is good' by seeking You in prayer constantly. You've given us other forms of spiritual 'food': the Eucharist, the Word, Singing hymns and, finally, just doing Your will. Give us constancy in prayer so that we never let up on interacting with You, following the injunction of St. Paul - 'Pray without ceasing'. Help us to not be afraid to stay awake to pray and to seek You in prayer even when around other people. It is through You, Your goodness, love and power, that we are able to live a holy and good life. It is by relying on You, expressing our needs to You and trusting You to meet them, that we can live our lives in peace and joy - Your priceless gifts to us. We thank and praise You Lord for all Your help and all of Your blessings and trust You to develop our relationship with You so that it mirrors the one You had with Jesus and with Francis - where we are always with You and You are always with us because we 'always do those things that please You'. Help us Lord, as we pray . . . Amen.
2 comments:
Bravo, dear Brother!
Thank you for such a magnificent part of our Franciscan heritage...
Thank you Fra Chris - our heritage is truly wondrous . . . in a quiet, humble, gentle, meek, inconspicuous but very good kind of way! I praise God that you yourself are . . . a wonderful part of that heritage! It sure is great to belong to such a wonderful family and . . . only 800 years old too! God bless you!
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