COME FOLLOW ME=SAINT FRANCIS

COME FOLLOW ME=SAINT FRANCIS!


Today=we HONOR SAINT FRANCIS=
The man most widely BELIEVED
To be LIKE JESUS


MORE than any other person
WHOEVER LIVED


Francis heard Jesus' VOICE
And of course=he FOLLOWED Jesus
Like we should all do


“If today you HEAR his voice=
Harden not your hearts” Psalm 95:7-8


“They were casting
A net into the lake
For they were fishermen


'Come FOLLOW ME'
Jesus said=
'And I will send you out
To FISH for people'


“At once=they left their nets
And FOLLOWED HIM” Matthew 4:19-20


While Francis was NOT
One of the original apostles
He did indeed=FOLLOW Jesus


He LISTENED to Jesus
With his heart


Today's readings are FILLED
With woe-sin-and destruction=
What a CONTRAST to
The life of Saint Francis
Who was a BUILDER


Francis was a man
Of gentleness=of goodness=
Of simplicity=of peace
And JOY
He possessed
ALL the fruits
Of the SPIRIT


Francis of Assisi was a man
Who LISTENED to GOD'S VOICE
And Jesus'=he even
Had the STIGMATA


Listen to me people
COME FOLLOW ME


“I wait for
Your salvation=Lord
And I FOLLOW your commands” Psalm 119:166


“When he has brought out
All his own
He goes on
Ahead of them


And his sheep FOLLOW HIM
Because they know
HIS VOICE” John 10:4


And indeed Francis
Did FOLLOW Jesus
But Francis did get
SOMETHING WRONG


When he heard Jesus say-
“REBUILD MY CHURCH”
Francis began restacking the stones
Of a nearby church
That was crumbling


Only later did he UNDERSTAND
What Jesus was talking about=
REBUILD my church
By rebuilding MY PEOPLE=
Help the people
RENEW their FAITH


But Francis-
ULTIMATELY got it right
And did REBUILD the people
AND THEIR FAITH
And the Church


“Surely your goodness and love
WILL FOLLOW ME
All the days
Of my life” Psalm 23:6


Let us all=LIKE FRANCIS=
HEAR Jesus' voice
And ACCEPT the invitation
To COME FOLLOW HIM


In the name of Jesus=Francis=and ALL who LISTEN to the Father's voice


Robert P. Wallman
10-3-19




Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Sr. Melannie Svoboda, S.N.D.


Francis of Assisi LIVED 1181-1226=and his feast day is OCTOBER 4th