Saying Yes to Redemption

Dear Friend,

Tuesday afternoon, at a prayer service in their chapel, our Franciscan novices were presented with their brown robes and white cords - the official garb of the Order of Friars Minor (OFM). With a little help from their brothers, they then put on their “habits” for the first time. Tah-dah, they fit! - and when the flush of excitement subsided, we all had a chance to ponder again what this Franciscan life is all about.

The early biographers of St. Francis present his discipleship as a sacred journey with numerous turning points and conversions. He began by rebuilding tumble-down chapels in the countryside around Assisi, and then, when he heard the Gospel proclaimed at Mass about how the disciples were to go out and preach -  taking nothing with them on the journey - he changed direction, and his clothing as well. He put on a sort of tunic that matched more closely what he understood Jesus to be describing in the Gospel. Then he hit the road.

The early writers point out that his tunic/robe was in the shape of a cross which you can see today, whenever a friar in a habit extends his arms. It’s like St. Francis tried in every way - even through a change of clothing - to reflect the love of God that comes to us in Jesus Christ, who gave himself - and gives himself - to us completely. We can all say yes to our redemption in different ways, regularly, and for me I can do it each time I open my arms to a new day and put on my habit. Maybe it was like this for Bartimaeus, on the day he met Jesus. His life began again. He threw off his cloak, received his sight, and “followed Jesus on the way.” 

Gratefully,

Fr. Dan ofm, Pastor