On this day, we recall the great St. Francis of Assisi, an extraordinary Saint who lived his faith in such a way that he helps restore it in others. He founded the Franciscan order based on vows of poverty, serving the poor, and preaching the Good News. This order numbered in the thousands before his death, spanned many countries, and yet Francis remained humble and thanked God for the grace to evangelize. St. Francis lived his faith by embracing poverty and detaching from this world so that he could better love and serve the Lord. He met adversity with joy and patience even though he was considered by the rich and powerful to be a fool and a troublemaker.
Jesus encourages us to keep our peace when people oppose the Gospel Message. The invitation to follow Christ is an invitation to respond to the truth that the Kingdom is at hand, first focusing on our response to the Gospel and, from there, being a witness to others. We are asked to go forth and plant the seeds of faith one heart at a time.
Trust the Lord in times of discouragement due to the state of our current culture. For He is our unwavering strength and refuge. Know that all things, even the most challenging, work for the good of those who love God (Rom 8:28). The truth is that we have an entire world to serve and share the message of Christ. Our mission has not changed since the Ascension of our Lord and Pentecost: To live our faith and share it with others through kind deeds, inspiring words, and prayer – and leave the rest to the Lord. What can you do? Embrace joy, peace, and happiness, and make the Lord your King and Savior.
It is so easy to be overwhelmed, downtrodden, and even anxious about the matters of this world, but our Lord invites us to shake the dust off our feet, let it go, and keep moving forward. The Lord desires our faith and prayers so that we can grow closer to God and recall the old saying, “Do your best, and trust that God has the rest.”
When we do our best to share the faith, we must be people of deep and reverent prayer. Prayer isn’t just a passing thought but a constant and continual conversation with the Lord throughout our day and throughout our lifetime. We are never too old to pray, too young to pray, too sick to pray, too happy to pray, or too sad to pray. Scripture reminds us that our prayers and ability to share the faith will have a lasting impact for all of eternity. Jesus desires to unite Himself with each individual person as well as communities and nations. He became man to heal our brokenness and restore the Kingdom of God. His desire is to heal the brokenness of others through us.
Your efforts, no matter how small, are significant in God’s grand plan. If we all work together to do our part, the earth will be set on fire with the love of Christ. May we seek to “rebuild the Church” by helping to restore the true faith in others, just as St. Francis did.
Daily Reading
Saturday of the Twenty-sixth Week in Ordinary Time
Readings for the Optional Memorial of Saint Faustina Kowalska, virgin Reading 1 JB 42:1-3, 5-6, 12-17 Job answered the LORD and said: I know that you can do all things,…
Saint of the Day
Saint Faustina Kowalska
Saint Faustina Kowalska, celebrated for her profound messages of God’s mercy, experienced mystical visions and revelations, ultimately canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1993.
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