“As he taught, Jesus said, ‘Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted in the marketplaces, and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely.’"  Mark 12:38-40 NIV

Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone, better known as Francis of Assisi, was an Italian mystic, poet and Catholic friar who founded the religious Order of Friars Minor, the Franciscans.  He is best known for his radical embrace of poverty, love for nature, and devotion to the Gospels. But it wasn’t always so.

Francis was born the son of a prosperous cloth merchant in Assisi, Italy in 1182.  He lived a privileged youth which was mostly spent in harmless and fruitless attempts to achieve his dream of becoming a knight. His original ambitions were very different from what would eventually become his calling.

One day while Francis was working intently in his father’s cloth shop arranging the fabric, a beggar came to the door and asked for alms in God’s name. Francis rudely kicked the man out, but at once he regretted his actions and followed the man to offer his apologies. This event replayed in his mind over and over again.
Later on in his life, during a brief stay in Rome, Francis took out his money, took off his garments, and gave them all to the poor. On another occasion he encountered a leper in Assisi and, instead of fleeing as most villagers did, he went up to him and embraced him. He did all this despite the scorn of his friends and his father’s great disappointment. He knew the steps before him were ordered; that leper represented Christ Himself! So Francis renounced his father’s possessions and went on to work among the poor and leprous people of his time. For Francis, that was life.
But the meaning of life for someone with a secular mentality consists of such things as wealth, prominence, and power. The Teachers of the law in today’s Scripture reading found such meaning in going around with long robes, enjoying the greetings in the market places and the best places in the Synagogues. They learned the art of making long prayers, because the longer the prayer, the more they gained. Religious authority had become for them a means of personal advantage.

I am not sure if it is any different today. We see many TV and digital evangelists who love to wear long robes, who enjoy status and popularity, and who devour and cheat innocent and God-fearing people of their money.  Ever since Reverend Ike declared, “Send me $50, and I’ll send you a personally autographed picture of Jesus (personally autographed by Rev. Ike, that is),” it is rare to see any of these digital and televangelists who do not conclude their message by asking for your money (Billy Graham was one of the rare exceptions). A two dollar book or CD is priced at 25 or more dollars, and they seem to make the point that in spending that money, you are pleasing God! There is no denying that many of these men and women are very talented preachers and teachers, but Jesus gives us a standard by which religious leaders should be judged—not by their robes, popularity, eloquence, or fundraising ability, but by whether they use their position to serve others or themselves.  Francis discovered that the way to become rich in the things of God was to become poor in the things the world considers valuable.

Jesus admonished us to search our hearts and find true wealth. He said, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-21). The question isn't, "How religious do I appear to other people?"  It is, "How faithfully am I following Jesus when nobody is watching?"  St. Francis found true treasure in his life. Do you know where yours lies?  Ask yourself: Has my faith become a way of serving God—or a way of serving myself? 

Prayer:  Loving God, all of creation is yours, yet your desire is for we, Your children, to be in a relationship with you and with one another.  Open our hearts to see the true treasures you have for each of us in this life.  Amen.

n.b., October 4 is the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi.  When it falls on a Sunday, as it does this year, the celebration is transferred to another day.  However, we will still have the Blessing of the Animals here at St. Dunstan’s on Sunday, October 4. Bring your pet and join us.

Blessings,

Steve+