By Ron Semenoff OFS, J.P.I.C. Animator for St. Mary’s Fraternity
As Franciscans we are called to live in a spirit of Justice, Peace, and the Integrity of Creation (JPIC). In our Rule of Life we read in Article 4:
“The rule and life of the Secular Franciscans is this: to observe the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ by following the example of Saint Francis of Assisi, who made Christ the inspiration and the center of his life with God and people. Christ, the gift of the Father’s love, is the way to him, the truth into which the Holy Spirit leads us, and the life which he has come to give abundantly. Secular Franciscans should devote themselves especially to careful reading of the gospel, going from Gospel to life and life to the Gospel.”
We are told that when St. Francis met the leper right after his conversion he saw the eyes of Christ looking back at him. As he embraced and eventually cared for this leper and all the outcasts he met, Francis did this in the spirit of Matthew’s Gospel 25.31-40:
“When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left. Then the King will say to those at his right hand, `Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, `Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink? And when did we see thee a stranger and welcome thee, or naked and clothe thee? And when did we see thee sick or in prison and visit thee? And the King will answer them, `Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.’ ”
His conversion called St. Francis to give food to the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, to welcome the stranger, to clothe the naked, and to care for the sick, and the prisoner. In doing this Francis ministered to his Lord and Savior. Our conversion to Christ as followers of St. Francis calls us to do the same. Let us live our call to Justice, Peace and the Integrity of Creation by giving food to the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, to welcome the stranger, to clothe the naked, and to care for the sick, and the prisoner.
In my next article I will look closer at our call to be stewards of creation.