Francis honestly

Honesty before God is ironically a difficult position for people. The text today from the Book of Job in the Roman Catholic Lectionary is characterized by Friar Jude Winkler as “honest if messy”. Job has decided that he has been attacked by God. He is indignant and will make his charge of unfair treatment by God public. The struggle of Job is one which people acquainted with great suffering and tragedy know well. The gift of this Book of Scripture is the recognition of the reality of suffering and the confusion and wrestling with the role of God which we experience in life. The great assertion of Job today that he knows his Redeemer lives is the understanding which embodies honest hope for the future and deeper trust and confidence in Providence than the current situation warrants. This baseline certainty that God is love and will provide is the reality Jesus exhorts the seventy two disciples is to own in the passage today from the Gospel of Luke. The mission to live the Gospel and bring the news of the arrival of the Kingdom of God is to be lived in the flesh by curing the sick and depending on Providence and hospitality for our human needs. The gift of “peace” is given by the disciples to those who accept them and support them. Friar Jude reminds us that we need to use our gifts to work with Providence in prudence and planning. The Church today celebrates the feast of the “most beloved saint”, Francis of Assisi. The spiritual reach of Francis is beyond Christian believers to many seeking goodness and God. The ‘peace prayer’ of Francis proclaims the path through which the peace Jesus desires His disciple bring can be realized. The method of preaching the Gospel at all times, using words only if necessary, is the Franciscan life style which makes the Good News visible in action. Simple and honest love is the approach which changes lives.