Franciscan Discernment 11th Reflection: The Call to Follow the Gospel

 Franciscan Sister of Christian Charity Sister Mary Ann Spanjers reflects on the eleventh of a series of videos on Franciscan Discernment. Discerning God’s call? You are invited for a visit with us. We are also offering a virtual discernment group for those searching more seriously. Click here for more invitations. 

 “The Call to Follow the Gospel”

Each experience Francis had led him deeper into his life with God; He heard Jesus’ message from the San Damiano Crucifix: “Rebuild my Church”; He encountered the leper embraced and kissed him, thus encountering his true self and ministry to the lepers; he had stripped himself of his clothes and the wealth of his father before the bishop. Yet, it was unclear how he was called to live until the day he heard the Gospel. Biographer Thomas Celano tells it this way:

One day the gospel was being read in that church about how the Lord sent out his disciples to preach. The holy man of God, who was attending there, in order to understand better the words of the gospel, humbly begged the priest after celebrating the solemnities of the Mass to explain the gospel to him the priest explained it all to him thoroughly line by line. When he heard that Christ’s disciples should not possess gold or silver or money, or carry on their journey a wallet or a sack, nor bread nor a staff, nor to have shoes nor two tunics, but that they should preach the kingdom of God and penance, the holy man, Francis, immediately exulted in the spirit of God. “This is what I want” he said, “this is what I seek, this is what I desire with all my heart.”

Fr Roch Niemier, OFM in his book, In the Footsteps of Francis and Clare writes that Francis was totally present to this moment of inspiration listening carefully to what the Lord was saying to him. From the depths of his being Francis knew what he wanted and followed his heart.

How often do each of us get stuck in trying to discover what God wants for us? I find hope from discovering that Francis found clarity from staying close to Jesus. His desire to do the Father’s will was rooted in looking and listening to Jesus. I also find hope in recognizing that this is revealed with each experience Francis had in his quest. Mother Teresa’s words often come to mind, “God does not call us to be successful, but to be faithful.” Francis stayed faithful in being led by the Holy Spirit through each encounter with God through others, prayer, service, renunciation of wealth and possessions, self-discovery, and the guidance of the Church. It was through the Church that Francis heard God speak to him in the Gospel reading.

At the core of all this is an acute awareness, he was present to each experience, he knew in his heart when he was being touched by God. I must admit, although it is a personal goal for my daily life, I drift in and out of awareness. I get distracted in my quiet time of prayer and begin to plan my day; I zone out during the readings at Mass; someone comes into my office while I am reading something and I barely look up or stop what I am doing to listen and “see” the person; my heart is beating but I often take it for granted. When I do pay attention, I am able to “feel” with my heart the struggle of another, their pain or loneliness; I am able to revel in the beauty and mystery of a butterfly just out of its chrysalis; I sit by the lake enjoying eating an apple watching the ducks swim as the sun is setting;  I hear God’s word in scripture and know that He is speaking to me to do what Francis did, be free of the boundaries society puts on our lives, choose another path, one that is led by the Holy Spirit, keep my focus on Jesus who will always lead me to a deeper love.

My prayer for you is that you too, become more aware, aware of the pain and struggle you are experiencing, of the messages you are taking in from so many influences in your life; aware that Jesus desires to speak to your heart to show you how and where to find freedom in you heart and in your life, and that you stay close to the Church where you will be in God’s presence.   (Photo: St. Francis of Assisi, Frisco, Texas)