By Amy Schisler
“Jesus said to him, ‘No one who puts his hand to the plow
and looks back is fit for the Kingdom of God’” ~ Luke 9:62
Proclaim the Kingdom of God
Today, we celebrate the Memorial of St. Francis. From the beginning of his ministry, Francis took Jesus’s words in today’s reading to heart. Jesus said, “The Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.” Often, St. Francis had nowhere to lay his head. Jesus said, “Go and proclaim the Kingdom of God.” St. Francis went throughout Italy and Egypt and made attempts to proclaim the Gospel in Spain and the Holy Land. Few people today would abandon their comforts of home to follow Christ’s command, but Francis did so without hesitation.
Fit for the Kingdom of God
Francis spent his entire life working toward being fit for the Kingdom of God, but more importantly, he strived to help others do the same. He took God’s Word to people inside and outside Italy’s borders. Francis founded his own order and the order of the Poor Clares. He fed the hungry, clothed the naked, and visited those imprisoned by sin or ignorance of God’s teachings. He loved all God’s creatures—men, women, and all living beings on earth.
Following Francis
Jesus did many good works through St. Francis and wants to do good works through us. He wants us to spread His Word, to care for those in need, and to go forward in our mission. We cannot remain mired in our past and our sins. Jesus is our present and our future. Francis reminds us, “I have been all things unholy. If God can work through me, he can work through anyone.” Let God work through you from this day forward.
Prayer
God our Father, help me walk forward on the path You have laid out for me. Help me realize that my future lies with You and Your mission for me and not in my past mistakes. St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us.
Call to Action
What is God’s mission for you? Is it time for you to move toward your future with Christ? Attend a retreat; go to Confession; spend time in Adoration. Seek God, and ask Him to show you your path.
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St. Francis is one of my favorite saints. My relationship with him began many, many years ago when I came across The prayer of St. Francis.
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace: where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.
Through the Holy Spirit his prayer opened my eyes for the first time to how I wanted to be. And God was listening because He has helped me every day to live this prayer. Love to all my WINE sisters.
This has always been one of my favorite prayers as well. May you have a blessed Memorial of St. Francis. St. Francis, pray for us.