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What does it mean to follow in the footsteps of St
Francis today? The two extracts on this page are by Brother Ramon, an
Anglican Franciscan who lived at one time as a hermit in North Wales,
"where sheep were blown off cliffs and the cabbages had to be staked
to survive!"
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Can the life and teachings of St Francis have anything to say to us in
the world of now? Here are three questions to think about...
• St Francis chose to live in poverty –
how can we simplify the way we live to help the world's poor?
• What practical steps can we take to follow
St Francis's love and respect for nature?
• What difference might it make to pray St Francis's
prayer, Lord, make me an intsrument
of your peace, over a friendship of yours that has broken down?
Visit the rejesus community
boards and either start or join in a discussion on the life and teaching
of St Francis.
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Living the life of Francis... on the A303
Franciscans began as mendicant (begging) friars, and one of the ways
in which this is still possible is by hitching a lift on an evangelistic
or ministry trek. One day a lorry stopped on the A303 in the West Country
in response to my "thumbs up" sign. It is comparatively easy
to get a lift in a Franciscan habit!
As we sped along, the driver asked: "If you could tell me in one
sentence what you stood for, what would you say?"
"Oh, that's not an easy question," I replied, "because
I would want to say something about Jesus in my life. But if I could communicate
my attitude in one sentence, I would say that I seek to be open to every
other human being as my brother and sister."
"Gosh, that's mind-blowing," he responded. "If everyone
was like that, the world would change."
"Hold on!" I grinned. "I didn't say I actually live
like that, but I want to."
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An earth, sea and sky spirituality
Franciscan spirituality is especially relevant in our own day. Not only
does it ground us in the biblical faith from which the Franciscan experience
springs, but it roots us into the very stuff of creation, with its immediate
awareness of earth, sea and sky.
Our environment is increasingly polluted by modern culture, industry,
commerce and warfare, Our natural resources are being depleted by the
hour, and we are poisoning and infecting our fellow human beings and other
creatures.
In such a world, the Franciscan love of nature, reverence for life and
openness to our fellows leads to joy and peace, with a down-to-earth and
practical desire to correct our mistakes and reverse our wrong practices.
In our own day, when political ideologies are collapsing, when religion
is being exploited as an argument for exclusivism and violence, and when
the poorer nations are calling for equality and justice, then the life
and teaching of St Francis is a beacon in the darkness. In him the light
of Christ shines most clearly, and the love of Christ continues to manifest
itself.
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