A Lenten Reflection through the Franciscan Lens
In preparing for Lent, I went to the writings of St. Francis in the early Rule . I wanted to ponder his choice of poverty as a way to imitate Christ and to guide his life and in turn to influence my own. In the Rule St. Francis writes to the brothers, “The Lord commands us in the Gospel, Watch, be on your guard against all malice and greed. ( Luke 12:13 ). Guard yourselves against the preoccupation of this world and the cares of this life.”
A few months ago, I was listening to a group of people discussing what was the most important issue for them in life. I was shocked as I listened to them share what was uppermost in their minds and hearts. It was not the dignity of the human person, or the support of the poor and disenfranchised, or our education system, or the migrants at the border or the freedoms of democracy or the care of the planet, or health care, or the support of our allies and those in war torn countries or many other issues facing our country. It was about protecting each individual’s wealth, the assurance that their investments would grow. It was all about money, hard cold cash in the pockets of those persons in the discussion. It was about having more, a bigger house, a better car, bigger bank accounts or reputation and ego. These were the things that would bring them peace and security, but will it ?.... or will it build bigger fences around us and give us fewer people we can trust. We have assigned money enormous power. We have given it almost final authority. If we look at our behavior, it tells us that we have made money more important than we have given to the meaning of human life. “Money is malignant, we have killed for it, enslaved others for it, and enslaved ourselves to joyless lives in pursuit of it…..we have demeaned and devalued ourselves, taken advantage of people in order to get or keep money or the power we believe it can buy.”, author Lynne Twist.
Jesus is absolute about money and power because He knows what we’re are going to do with it! Many of us will serve the god called “mammon”, the one who takes over when we think that all is counting, weighing, and deserving. Perhaps Christ had this in mind when He counselled the young man to sell all of his possessions and then follow Him. Francis found great joy in extreme poverty, because it gave him the freedom to live his life as Jesus and Mary did and not burdened with the cares of the world.
Does our God require extreme poverty as we understand it, of course not, but His Son has reminded us of the danger of excess and especially the importance we attach to it. A very wealthy person may have many possessions but be totally unattached and willing to share with the less fortunate, while a poor person with few possessions may be stingy, grasping and hoarding.
From the Rule of the Secular Franciscan Order: Trusting in the Father; Christ chose for himself and his mother a poor and humble life, even though he valued created things attentively and lovingly. Let us seek a proper spirit of detachment from temporal goods by simplifying our own material needs. Let us be mindful that according to the gospel we are stewards of the goods received for the benefit of God’s children.
A Lenten Prayer :
Lord, show me how to be poor in a culture that worships
the wealth of power, possessions and prestige. Amen
Something to reflect about during Lent
May the + Lord give you His peace.
Charlotte Kelly ofs
