Word to the Wise
Wednesday, October 4, 2017 - Wednesday in the 26th Week in Ordinary Time
[Neh 2:1-8 and Luke 9:57-62]WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2017. HOLY FATHER ST. FRANCIS [Nehemiah 2:1-8 and Luke 9:57-62. These scriptures may vary at Dominican locations since we too celebrate St. Francis. Franciscan locations will definitely have different scriptures.] "No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the Kingdom of God." [Luke] The gospel scripture given for the ordinary celebration today is still very appropriate for the feast of St. Francis! As far as we know, he turned away from what he left behind and created a movement that is till alive today. His followers have historically disagreed on how to live his legacy, but their sheer number testifies to the power of his witness. Historically, we Dominicans have had our theological disagreements with Franciscan theologians, but later on the custom developed whereby on the feasts of our founders, we invited the other group to preach at our priory or friary. I have done that a couple of times! Outside the Franciscan orbit, I think Francis is more admired for his love of creation and animals than he is for his radical poverty. However, even that love of creation, so wonderfully taught in Pope Francis' encyclical, LAUDATO SI, is dismissed by powerful economic environmental interests. Radical poverty is not exactly what our capitalistic market hegemony likes, either. That makes St. Francis truly a modern witness to us all. It's hard to plow a straight furrow in the Kingdom of God if one is always looking back. AMEN