Homily on Wednesday, 26th Week in OT, Memorial of St. Francis of Assisi, 4 October 2023
Yesterday I was in Don Bosco Lawaan to teach Liturgy to our third year college students. Their number is quite disheartening because only five are enrolled in my class, three of whom are our aspirants (one from Mandaue, another from Leyte and the third from Samar). The rest of my two students are externs who simply desire to be Christian educators and evangelizers of the young. Although few, they are very interactive in my class. They listen attentively, ask relevant questions, and participate in discussions. I just hope and pray that they may persevere in their vocation and that many more young people may take interest in enrolling in our college and eventually become Salesians, youth ministers or lay teachers.
In the gospel passage we just heard, Jesus meets several new “applicants” who expressed their desire to follow him. However not all of them qualified for various reasons. Some had very strong attachments to their family while others couldn’t give up their desire for self-fulfillment and a comfortable lifestyle. These have prevented them from seriously following Jesus and persevering till the end.
Sad to say, even today very few young people desire to enter the seminary or the religious life. And in many cases the biggest obstacle in following Jesus more closely is either too much attachment to their loved ones or the craving for an easy, fulfilling and comfortable lifestyle. It is so sad, but it is the reality. And it confirms what Jesus had said long ago: “Many are called but few are chosen.”
Today we celebrate the memorial of St Francis of Assisi. Francis was born to rich family in Italy in the year 1181 and grew up to be a spoiled child who often indulged in eating, drinking and partying with friends. But his life took a different turn when he fought as a valiant knight in the battle against the neighboring city of Perugia. However, being inexperienced in war he was captured by the enemy troops and thrown into prison where surprisingly he began to have some visions of God calling him to conversion.
After his release from prison, Francis suddenly met Christ in the face of a leper. And so he decided to give up his luxurious lifestyle, leave behind his family and all his possessions and began to follow Jesus in poverty. He devoted his life to devout prayer, to preaching the Good News, to serving the poor, and to rebuilding the Church which has fallen apart. He made such an impact on the people around that soon he was able to gather many followers who would eventually help him establish a religious order called the Franciscan Friars.
St. Francis may have been just like many other young people during his time. But what made him so different is that he took courage in leaving everything behind in order to follow Jesus. He willingly embraced evangelical poverty, humbly served the poor, and quietly worked hard for the building up of the Church. What he did after his period of imprisonment was indeed the bravest act a true knight could do for his Lord.
Let us pray in this Eucharist that through the intercession of St Francis many young people especially from our very own families may courageously and generously respond to the call of the Lord and devote their lives faithfully in the service of God and his Church. GiGsss!
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