Francis knew that owning a desirable 'thing' may result in someone wanting it for themselves and trying to take it from us. You could end up fighting that person! Francis wanted to maintain his focus on what was most important in life: loving God and others. Fighting to retain something that will eventually turn to dust was not only a waste of time but could result in one losing the true treasure - one's relationship with God!
Francis argued that keeping 'our' things from others, even if it did not lead to violence, often resulted in arguments and lawsuits - bad things in themselves! Christians (and Franciscans) try hard to avoid these things. St. Paul said, "You must aim to be . . . filled with . . . love, patient and gentle." And, " . . . a servant of the Lord is not to engage in quarrels, but must be kind to everyone, a good teacher, and patient. He has to be gentle . . ." And, ". . . not to go . . . picking quarrels, but to be courteous and always polite to all kinds of people." We are called to be patient, gentle, and kind to everyone but especially toward those who want to argue, sue or fight with us!
Jesus tells us we must be different from those who don't follow Him in how we think and act. That is why Francis described himself as being a 'stranger in a strange land'. He was 'strange' in that he didn't look at things the way the worldly man does. He chose to seek God rather than the things of this world. He and his brothers rejected the use of money and so treated it like 'so much dust to be walked on'. Jesus had said, "You cannot serve two masters. You cannot serve God and money." That is why Francis rejected the 'world', it's ways and it's 'things' - especially money.
One of the clearest signs that Francis and his brothers were 'strangers' was how they cherished Poverty - something the world could not understand! The 'world' values money, force (physical power, popularity, positions of influence), material things (that are worth a lot of money) and sensual pleasures. Francis cherished Poverty as an antidote against the world valuing things that produce selfishness, greed, sensuality, pride, arrogance and abuse of power in people - things that are dark, ugly, evil.
Francis and his followers wanted to be like Jesus which is why they chose to avoid power and high position. He called the brothers 'minor' - little, small, unimportant because he wanted them to see themsselves as the lowest of all people.
The brothers combated the world's love for power and use of force by following Jesus' example of being gentle and passive in dealing with persecutors. Like Him they acted like 'lambs being led to the slaughter'. They were happy when they were persecuted and refused to claim their legal rights against anyone who attacked, abused or stole from them.
All God's children should not only have God's peace in their hearts but also try to bring His peace into the world as peace makers. St. Paul said, "Have peace inwardly so that you can show peace outwardly." Jesus said, "Blessed are the peace-makers for they shall be called the children of God." True peace makers must bring peace first to those who want and try to hurt them. St. Paul said, "As much as lies within your power, be at peace with all men."
Though most people agree that the idea of peace is wonderful that doesn't mean they 'believe' in it or try to promote it, especially if it requires them to give up their possessions. Many people in the world have lost hope and can't imagine a world without violence, fighting and war. Jesus' followers overflow with hope and know what peace is and believe that, one day, it will reign in the universe. Worldly people believe in power, that 'might makes right', and aren't afraid to use it to get what they want - even when it hurts the innocent and powerless.
Jesus taught us how we should respond to the 'fleshy man' who wants to hurt and steal from us. He said we must "turn the other cheek". He taught us to respond generously to the man in the world - no matter how mean and selfish he might be. Jesus said, "Do good to those who do evil to you . . . bless those who curse you . . . give to those who ask of you and loan to them, hoping they will not return those things to you!" He tells us to not act like our persecutors but to act like God, our "Father in heaven who is good to the wicked and the righteous and generous to the evil as He is to the good." We must suffer faithfully and endure with patience if we want to earn our heavenly reward.
How does a person learn to act like Jesus - to become strong in doing what is right even when others are doing us wrong? A good way to start is to practice asceticism each day. The goal of these practices is to learn to control and discipline one's unruly sensual nature which is ever ready to strike out at those who hurt us. These practices consist of fasting and giving alms, the 'discipline' (whipping oneself with a cord), vigils, ('keeping watch' - not sleeping at night but praying) and doing other devotions. By killing 'the flesh' we break the power of sensuality over our lives, forsake the 'worldly way' of doing things and learn to act like God, selfless and focused on loving others no matter the cost.
With the power of God's love we are able to fight, like Jesus did, with humility and gentleness instead of fists, loud voices and lawsuits. We are able to overcome the evil in ourselves, in the world and in the one attacking us.
Jesus tells us that an ascetic perspective is necessary to live a healthy spiritual life and overcome the world and it's ways. He made it clear that those who do violence to themselves "take the kingdom of heaven by force," St. James said, "We must do violence to our bodies so as to enter the kingdom of heaven." Jesus also said, "If your eye . . . hand . . . foot causes you to sin then cut it off. It is better to enter heaven without them . . . than to have both . . . and go to hell!"
Poverty contains within it many of the spiritual prizes sought in asceticism: accepting responsibility for one's actions, self-discipline, the 'killing' of sensuality (selfishness and greed are, by definition, sinful) and eliminating from our hearts that which is dark, ugly and evil. Children of God become self-less by learning to submit to God's will. They become pure, good, powerful in love and able to respond with this goodness when others attack them. St. Paul said, "We conquer evil with good, hate with love."
Some of us have taken vows of Holy Poverty. We know that the state of Spiritual Poverty is not achieved by mere words no matter how sincere and fervent they are! Holy Poverty can only be achieved by constant effort. Jesus said, 'take up your cross DAILY and follow Me.' Francis knew this would be a daily struggle, and so that is why he said, 'WE ARE RESOLVED to have nothing temporal in this world.' Franciscans constantly remind themselves of their promise to cherish Holy Poverty, stay detached from the things of this world and cling totally, desperately, to God.
Jesus said, "Martha, Martha, you are worried about so many things! Yet, only a few are necessary, indeed only one . . . " Through detachment from 'things, Francis and his followers showed they wanted to 'worry' about that ONE thing - LOVE.
PRAYER: Jesus, You taught Francis and his brothers the wisdom of forsaking the things of this world. You told them that only one thing was necessary and that 'thing' was love. Help us to be spiritual people, 'strangers in a strange land'. and focus our efforts on reaching our heavenly homeland. We know this achieved by denying ourselves and following You in doing good. Help us to live up to our name as peace makers and share this 'peace that surpasses our ability to understand' with everyone enslaved to fear and desire for the things of this temporal world. How wonderful it would be if everyone knew and walked with You in freedom and joy! Help us to walk with spiritual power in this world of dust and ashes and overcome evil with good and hate with love. Our hope is in You, our Savior. Amen.
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