Dear Sisters and Brothers in St. Francis and Clare,
The Lord has truly risen, alleluia! There is cause for rejoicing here and we are glad: for this is the day the Lord has made!
I am sure that St. Francis and all his brothers and sisters joyfully took these words of Peter to heart:
“Praised be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in his great mercy gave us new birth; a birth unto hope which draws its life from the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead; a birth to the imperishable inheritance, incapable of fading or defilement, which is kept in heaven for you who are guarded with God’s power through faith; a birth to salvation which stands ready to be revealed in the last days” (1 Peter 1: 3-5)
St. Bonaventure urged us to ask for grace rather than instruction; desire not understanding; the groaning of prayer not diligent reading; the Spouse not the teacher; God not people; clarity not darkness; not light, but the fire that totally inflames and transports us into God with burning affections. What is important is that God is so much part and parcel of our life that prayer spontaneously becomes second nature to us. Embracing prayer becomes a pathway to God in our whole being which then becomes our entire way of Franciscan and evangelical life.
During this Easter Season as soon as we realize we are with God in faith and love, we are in prayer to His honor and glory.
Fraternally,
Friar Louis Geelan, O.F.M.
Questions for personal reflection and/or group discussion:
1. In what Franciscan ways do I share my Easter vision and faith with those I encounter each day in my home, work place and fraternity?
2. How do I embrace the Gospel way of life in my heart?