Looking Through the Franciscan Lens

Dear Friend,

A year ago, as we concluded our parish-wide study of the Franciscan tradition, our wise Franciscan scholar and brother Michael Blastic invited us to look closely at how, as a parish, we serve as an evangelizing community. He offered important questions and a simple tool.

Recall the three-step movement Father Michael presented as the core of a Franciscan approach to spreading the Gospel. (1) God gives a gift (2) we choose to do something with the gift, and (3) we are transformed in the process. The story of St. Francis is the model: the Lord led him among lepers (the gift); he did something; namely, he served them. Then came the transformation: what he had feared – bitter it was - became sweet. The failed knight became a living sign of Christ.

In this Sunday’s Gospel Jesus gives Peter and the disciples a trip on the sea. (“Jesus made them get into a boat…”) The weather changes and Peter does something, boldly asking Jesus for a quick lesson on how to walk on water. Jesus obliges, Peter sinks, and Jesus helps him back in the boat with his friends. Their transformation has begun. Their eyes are opened to recognize the Son of God. 

As I write this, I feel the waves roiling around the parish: anger and urgent demands around pandemic, political polarization, bitter questions of Spanish colonialism, and racial inequity. As our boat is jolted on rough seas, I invite you to pick up Father Michael’s tool. Through your Franciscan lens, what do you see? Where are the gifts God is giving us? What are we doing with those gifts? What might our transformation look like? As our parish conversations resume in the weeks ahead, I look forward to hearing about what you’ve spotted nearby and on the horizon.

Gratefully,

Fr. Dan ofm, Pastor