26th Friday in Ordinary time, yr 2, Feast of St Francis, October 4, 2024
Jb 38:1, 12-2, 40:3-5; Ps 139:1-3, 7-10, 13-14; Lk 10:13-16
Humility can be a tough burden to bear. We often joke that we should not pray for humility because you might just get it. But isn’t that what Jesus wants us to do? Be humble? If you have ever read the book of Job, you know that it took Job 40 chapters to finally relent to God and accept his state. “Behold, I am of little account; what can I answer you? I put my hand over your mouth.” (40:4). Finally, Job understood, or seemed to understand, what God was saying. We are not in control, God is. It is futile to try and think we are the ones in control. We may think we are, but we are not. God is. That is why humility can be a tough burden, but also a wonderful lesson. Once we let go of our own desire to be in control, life becomes more pleasurable. Later on in Job’s discourse, he relents and tells God, “I know you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be hindered.” (42:2). With Job’s acceptance and humble attitude, the Lord blessed Job in his later days and comforted him until his death. Job was humbled and lived out the remainder of his life in peace.
St. Francis of Assisi, whom we celebrate today, lived a similar life as Job. He was from a prominent family; Francis lived his early life as a pleasure-seeking individual. After being captured in battle and released, Francis suddenly found living the wealthy life unbearable. After a long illness, where he again contemplated the type of life he was living, Francis began to work with the poor. While coming across a man with leprosy, he was repulsed by the man’s appearance. Stopping himself, he gave the man some money and kissed him. Around this time, is what was called his conversion. He began to give away everything he had. So much so his father went to the bishop to demand the money back. Francis then took off his clothes, handed them to his father, and said, “These also belong to you.” From that point on, he wore a simple coarse woolen cloak, tied around his waist.
While praying one time, he heard God speak to him saying, “Repair my house, which is virtually ruined.” Referring to the church in San Damiano. It is there he heard the call to go out and preach. Soon after, many others began to follow him. He created a rule for simple life called the Regina Primitive, which became the basis for the order of the Franciscans. Francis did many other things, including starting the tradition of displaying a creche during Christmas Time in 1224. By this time, there were thousands of Franciscans, and the order continues to flourish today. Francis died on October 3, 1226, and was canonized in 1228.
As I said, humility can be a tough burden to carry. But if we look at the life of Job, we can see the beauty that God has for us if we live a simple life and let God be in control. St. Francis certainly did, and if we can emulate God and Job, our lives will be much better off.
Saint James Catholic Church 