My Beloved Sisters and Brothers in Christ:
We are chosen by God for God. He created us. We are His. He asks that we bring forth His goodness in all that we are, with all our mind, heart, spirit and strength to allow His covenant to flourish across the land. As we celebrate the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Oct. 4, we recall a cherished saint, Francis of Assisi, whose feast day is Oct. 4. Pope Leo XIV proclaimed a special Jubilee Year of Saint Francis which began Jan. 10, and ends Jan. 10, 2027, commemorating the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi.
The jubilee is an opportunity for the faithful to rekindle their faith, strengthen their relationship with God and with the community of the Church. Bishop Krzysztof Nykiel, Regent of the Apostolic Penitentiary, said, “The year dedicated to St. Francis can be an invitation to simplify prayer by deepening it, rather than multiplying it; to live the Gospel concretely rather than merely talking about it. … The Year of St. Francis must not become another chapter full of special spiritual effects, but a silent passage from enthusiasm to deep maturity, from spectacular celebration to imitation in daily life.”
What do we know about this saint? What could he possibly teach us, a man who lived and died 800 years ago? From his example, we see that God’s grace can transform even the greatest weaknesses. St. Francis teaches us about drawing near to God, and that our relationship with others stems from our relationship with God. His knowledge of God is not a surface knowledge, but the oxygen of holiness. St. Francis also shows that the Peace of Christ is born from a converted heart, for in his early life, he denounced God many times before God’s love won him. In a world marked by conflicts, social violence, and insecurity, his life offers the Peace of Christ based upon the Gospel, the only redeemer of humanity!
By renouncing wealth and social prestige, St. Francis teaches us that true freedom of the heart is born of a rejection of the importance of material goods. As we live in a world of consumerism, St. Francis’ daily living invites us to live moderately, to care for creation, and place God and neighbor above any material possession. We can hear his voice helping us discern, “What is essential on our pilgrimage to heaven?”
St. Francis’ daily prayer was offering his entire being to God, and leading others to do the same. He encourages us to be consistent between faith and daily living; that faith is not one action but the fullness of our love for God. Our witness of our love for God is offered through actions, not just words or feelings. He helps us to understand that as we grow we become Who we receive, Jesus the Eucharist. St. Francis served the weakest, the poor and the marginalized with the gift of Divine Love. He teaches us to care for creation, for God’s creatures, from the simplest to human- kind, all participate in glorifying God. Everything we do affects the life of another.
What would St. Francis of Assisi say about ‘artificial intelligence?’ He would praise God for the gift of technology and for those who seek to reveal The Way, The Truth, and The Life through it. He would denounce any misuse of technology for the gain of one and abuse of another. He would agree with Pope Leo XIV who said, “Everyone should be part of one family and treat each other as brothers and sisters. Love for God and neighbor is the first and greatest commandment which found its full revelation and complete fulfilment in Christ.”
We are chosen by God to go and bear His fruit that will remain. May the fruit of St. Francis of Assisi and all the saints journey with us all our days.