He
based authority and obedience on three points: the weight and meaning of the
words themselves. 2. The specifically Franciscan ingredient in the matter of
obedience and authority. 3. The exercise of obedience and authority in the
light of some concrete situation today.
Authority
and obedience are both connected and interrelated. Both evoke relationships
found in family life, education, the professions as well as in religious life.
The
Gospels often say that Jesus speaks and acts with authority, and yet paradoxically
in our eyes, the authority of Jesus is linked to his own obedience to the
father.
Spontaneously,
how would I present authority and obedience in religious life? In what ways can
the etymology of the words authority and obedience throw light on my service of
the brothers.
Authority
to grow
St. Francis
understands, obedience through the contemplation of Christ who gave his life,
for love of his Father’s will.
For Francis,
living in obedience doubtless represents the highest form of poverty: as
dispossession of self out of love in this Franciscan perspective. St.
Bonaventure speaks of an obedience guided by charity.
Francis:
I am speaking, my son, as a mother would. The maternal image evokes affection,
but also underlines the fact that authority implies the giving of life, making
a person grow, as we said earlier and accompaniment
The
advice given by Francis is consistent with his own spiritual experiences. The
rules later drafted by him often repeat this principle: Let the brothers act as
the Lord shall inspire them, as shall seem good to them according to God.
What
elements of Franciscan spirituality seem important for my service to the
brothers
What
difficulties do I encounter in the exercise of authority as St. Francis
describes it?
In the
ministry entrusted to me, what means do I see as important to exercise authority
and inspiration among the brothers?
How
can I be proactive in helping the brothers to face the challenges of
individualism, and gentrification?
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