We are all journeying in this God given life to achieve our goal, aim and mission. We journey from one place to another, from state of life to another, from one spiritual experience to another higher one. Today we see and reflect on the journey of St. Francis of Assisi. His journey was unique and inspiring, a journey coupled with many things, human and divine, a journey of renunciation and surrender, a journey of total dedication to the person of Jesus, a Journey of love for God, human and the entire creation. Today we contemplate on the last phase of his journey as it is coming to an endpoint, a journey full of drama and grace and a journey which would last 800 years and inspire and attract millions of all generation. His journey will keep speaking and bringing many to Jesus the saviour. Francis shared his journey with that of Jesus and that is what made him to Imitate Him perfectly and completely.
In this journey Francis discovered himself as a weak, sinner and fragile human being and went about seeking the grace which would assist him to be an instrument of peace, service, love and fraternal bond and relationships. The journey was marked by positive and negative experiences, which led him to unite totally with the Divine and human. The journey granted him prolonged periods of illness and decline which he was able to face and carry forward. This journey of discovery of who God and Jesus is in his life led him to the lepers and outcasts of the society. This journey of discovery brought him close to the reality of being human and its pain and sufferings, but he marched on towards the goal with determination. Nothing in this journey broke him down, neither body or soul, mind and heart.
This journey of Francis led him to the Sultan to share his experience of the Crucified Lord facing all the sufferings and pain to reach to the Land of Saracens, initially it looked like the journey is not going to be successful but a solid solider of Christ that Francis was would never give up. At the end the journey is sweet and successful, there is conversion and change of heart and mind, there is acceptances of the Lord Jesus in the Lord of the unknown and a hero’s send-off to Francis. He carried not himself in this journey but Jesus in his heart, mind and on the lips for which he was willing to be hurt and wounded during the journey.
During his journey what accompanied him most was the Gospel way of life, the fraternity and the divine grace of God which brought vitality and vigour in him and the early brothers. His fragility turned and transformed into strength and power, into new vision and face for the Lord for the generations to come like that of ours. In this journey of Francis were are all accompanying him as sons and daughters, journey of life as Franciscans and journey of Faith to discover Jesus and Francis.
Today we will all gather in silence together with our friars and sisters to comfort one another with the Love of Francis as we remember his holy death. Prayers and songs of Praise will echo in our monasteries as we contemplate his life and final journey into eternity. As we share the common bond of being Franciscans with our rule, testament and proper constitutions, should not estrange us from the ideals of our father and founder Francis. He is calling us to higher life and journey that is Journey of Brotherhood and sisterhood.
On this day of Transitus let us imitate Francis and his virtuous life, let us learn to surrender totally to the Lord with the divine grace we have received on our Baptism, profession and Ordination. As Francis died as he lived, as a person of faith and a real man. He made a final act of surrender by asking the Lord to receive him into the sweet hands of the Lord. Let us place ourselves into the hands of Francis all our pain, brokenness, acts of disobedience, decline in living the Charism and rule, let us acknowledge our journey as Franciscans has not been what it should have been according to the promises we made on the day of our Professions.
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