Healing

Freedom for both Jesus and Francis was purely and simply freedom from the self , which is precisely freedom for the world . In order to be free for a full and authentic life, we must quite simply be free from our smaller selves.

Francis and Clare were not so much prophets by what they said as in the radical, system-critiquing way that they lived their lives.

We can neutralize the challenge and promise of Jesus and Francis by elevating them into the realm of sainthood and perfection. Or we can ponder their way of living in the world and attempt to follow them, fools though we would be.

Francis didn’t want his friars to preach salvation as much as he wanted them to be salvation. He wanted them to model and mirror the life of Jesus in the world, with all of the vulnerability that would entail.

“Do not ask your children

to strive for extraordinary lives.

Such striving may seem admirable,

but it is the way of foolishness.

Help them instead to find the wonder

and the marvel of an ordinary life.

Show them the joy of tasting

tomatoes, apples and pears.

Show them how to cry

when pets and people die.

Show them the infinite pleasure

in the touch of a hand.... See more