A powerful moment in history that defies logic and becomes a folly for some and a scandal for others. This stumbling block to many has become our faith foundation as followers of Christ Crucified. Jesus knew the limitations of human frailty and spent some time in Galilee to assure them that he would remain with them through the Holy Spirit.  As Franciscans we are faced with the same folly in our Seraphic father, St. Francis, and the stigmata he humbly accepted towards the end of his life. Francis also knew about human frailty – as a gentle stumbling block to remind his companions of their worldly status he gave them the title of “Friars Minor” and in a crazy act of love for his brothers and followers he gave the beloved title “Jongleurs de Dieu” – “God’s fools.”

 Sometimes we get sidestepped and swept up in the busyness of trying to emulate Francis in his Franciscanism – Fr. John Sullivan, OFM, reminded us during our Retreat with the Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls, that being Franciscans is NOT ABOUT BEING FRANCIS it is about JESUS! It seems easy to fall back into the comfort of our Fraternity or Community life and often times ignore what we as Secular Franciscans have been called to carry out - through our “way of life” as outlined in our Rule. “Mindful that they are bearers of peace which must be built up unceasingly, they should seek out ways of unity and fraternal harmony through dialogue, trusting in the presence of the divine seed in everyone and in the transforming power of love and pardon. Messengers of perfect joy in every circumstance, they should strive to bring joy and hope to others.”

In 2001, Fr. Valerius Messerich, OFM, our Regional Spiritual Assistant at that time, stated to us; “The Secular Franciscans have come a long way in recognizing that they must learn how to animate the secular world with Gospel values. This is a move from personal piety for the sake of saving one’s soul into the mainstream of society as it really is. They have found that the old formula of protecting themselves from evil by withdrawing from the world is not the way of St. Francis.” From time to time we should revisit these thoughts of Fr. Val to make sure we are not going astray – that would be going from gospel to coffee and donuts instead of from “gospel to life and life to gospel”.

Along these same lines Pope Benedict XVI, in his first major Pastoral Letter, instructs all that; “if I have no contact whatsoever with God in my life, then I cannot see in the other anything more than the other, and I am incapable of seeing in him the image of God. But if in my life I fail completely to heed others, solely out of a desire to be ‘devout’ and to perform my ‘religious duties,’ then my relationship with God will also grow arid.” Let us renew our energy as Secular Franciscans by living with vigor “As the Father sees in every person the features of his Son, the first-born of many brothers and sisters, so the Secular Franciscans with a gentle and courteous spirit accept all people as a gift of the Lord and an image of Christ.”

Both Jesus and Francis left us instructions. Jesus left two statements that summarize what we (church and fraternity) are to be and do. #1: The great commandment - Matthew 22:37-40. #2: The great commission - Matthew 28:19-20.  (If an activity or program for your fraternity or community fulfills one of these commands – do it. If it doesn’t – don’t!) Francis left us the example of finding God incarnate in everyone and in every created thing – expressed so powerfully in “The Canticle of Brother Sun” written in the garden of San Damiano while under the care of Clare.  Let us renew our energy with the vigor that will bring about “A sense of community that will make us joyful and ready to place ourselves on an equal basis with all people, especially with the lowly for whom we will strive to create conditions of life worthy of people redeemed by Christ.” (You will be noticed – you will be counterculture to this age.)

As our Region starts its journey afresh with the Joy of Easter – let all of us follow the example of  ‘metanoia’ as Francis lived it. Let this renewal move us into truly reaching out to the poor and disenfranchised within the areas of our Fraternities – let each Fraternity honestly and seriously reflect on - what is keeping our Secular Order Fraternities from growing as they did in the time of Francis and Clare? What are we doing wrong? It really is time for us to step up and share our values and convections with the society and culture we live in – let us set out to Galilee together.  Let us not be like the young man who heard the invitation but went away sad, for he had many possessions.

Peace to you and your loved ones. Our family will hold all of you in prayer during the Easter season.