Burning Brightly With Life and Holiness

Dear Friend,

When this Sunday’s first reading from Ezekiel comes around (every three years) I always seize the moment to cite one of my favorite stories from the early Franciscan sources. It involves a Dominican friar who comes to Francis with a question over biblical interpretation, the answer to which – reading between the lines – likely points to dispute over how to evangelize that at the time may have been pitting some of the Franciscans against some of the Dominicans. (The question persists to this day.)

In the course of a “long and sweet conversation,” the Dominican – identified as a “spiritual man and a Doctor of Sacred Theology” – asks Francis about the word of God spoken to Ezekiel which we hear this Sunday: “If you do not warn the wicked man about his wickedness, I will hold you responsible for his soul.” 

Here’s his dilemma, says the Dominican: “I’m acquainted with many people who live in mortal sin, as I’m aware. But I don’t always warn them about their wickedness. Will I then be held responsible for their souls?”

Francis replies that he is “an unlettered man” and that “it would be better for him to be taught by the other rather than to answer a question about Scripture.” But pressed again, he gives this answer: “If that passage is supposed to be understood in a universal sense, then I understand it to mean that a servant of God should be burning with life and holiness so brightly, that by the light of example and the tongue of his conduct he will rebuke all the wicked. In that way the brightness of his life and the fragrance of his reputation will proclaim their wickedness to all of them.”  

The Dominican “went away greatly edified,” we’re told … Now, what about us, as a parish?  

Pondering…

Fr. Dan ofm