Francesco Bernadone was the medieval equivalent of the stereotypical college “fratboy.” He was obsessed with nice clothes, popular music, and pretty girls. He was rich. He was popular. He had many friends and he kept those friends happy by using his father’s influence to evade serious trouble, paying the tab, and being the life of the party. But by the time Francesco reached his early twenties, he had become disillusioned with his life. Like many members of today’s so-called “millennial” generation, Francesco longed for meaning and purpose and peace in a world that seemed fraught with superficiality, temptation, and violence. After stumbling into a church and finding himself face-to-face with the Crucified Christ, he heard and embraced a call to love that changed his life and the lives of countless others. Francesco Bernadone was just like us. He was broken. He was wounded. He was a sinner. But because he chose love above all else, he became a saint. He became Saint Francis of Assisi.

Just like Saint Francis, each time we enter a church, we are confronted by the Risen Lord who lived for us, suffered for us, died for us, and rose from death for us. We are confronted with Christ’s Great Commandment to love God and love others — regardless of who they are, where they’re from, what they’ve done, or where they stand on the issues of the day. We are called to choose love in our homes, in our neighborhoods, in our parishes, and in our workplaces. We are called to love without counting the cost and without expecting anything in return. We are called to choose love over hate, mercy over judgment, and inclusion over exclusion whenever we can and however we can. In the gospels, Jesus showed us the way by healing the sick, feeding the hungry, befriending the outcast, and welcoming the stranger. In his life, Saint Francis showed us the way by caring for lepers, mending broken friendships, building bridges between different cultures, and rebuilding the church — brick by brick, person by person, soul by soul. Sometimes called a “Second Christ”, Francis teaches us to live the Gospel, share God’s love, and strengthen the Church in all that we think, say, and do.

But first, Saint Francis chose to love. And choosing to love is hard. Shortly after his conversion, Francis was called before a public assembly to answer for his decision to leave his friends and his family’s business. He was called to answer for the crimes of disrespecting his father and using his family’s financial resources to repair an almost forgotten local church. He was called to face criticism and ridicule from everyone he had ever known. Faced with this enormous pressure from his friends, family, and fellow citizens, Francis could have apologized for his recklessness, returned to the fold, and lived as a prince among men. He could have been a knight, a successful business man, or even a powerful politician. Instead, Francis answered Christ’s call. He turned away from privilege, prestige, and riches. He turned away from the way of the world and he turned toward the way of the gospel. He took the hard road of discipleship. He chose to love. He chose to love God and to love others.

More than eight centuries later, we know that living as disciples in today’s world poses its own unique challenges and temptations. Each week, we must choose between going to church or going to the mall. We must choose between praying for guidance or texting the latest news to our family and friends. We must choose between giving ourselves in fellow- ship and service to our community or binge-watching the trendy new television show. We must choose between finding common ground or sitting in judgment against those who see things differently than we do. Above all else, we are called to choose love. Saint Francis once said: “This is our vocation: to heal wounds, to bind what is broken, to bring home those who are lost.” This is our vocation, too. This is the vocation to love. So, let us pray for whatever we might need to choose love — today, tomorrow, and always. Saint Francis of Assisi, pray for us! May the Risen Lord give you peace!

Cliff Garvey
Associate Minister
Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport
Contact: cgarvey@ccgronline.com

CCGR Weekly Newsletter (10-1-17)
Bringing Home the Word (10-1-17)

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