Francis’ small faith

                   Some of Christ’s commands

—some of the bedrocks of the Christian faith in fact, are easy to dismiss. 
For example, Christ’s repeated instance that our faith ought to be like a mustard seed
—his call for a small faith
—is rarely tried. 
Small is so often seen as failure, 
And large is so often seen as success… 
that we don’t even question what is faithful to the vision of our Lord Jesus Christ.

                  Yet there are times when faithfulness flourishes
—moments in Christian history, where the faith and faithfulness coalesce, 
there are people who live out a mustard seed faith.

                  One such person is Francis of Assisi, 
a Renewer of the Church in the Lutheran Tradition, 
whose life and ministry exemplified the awesome power of a mustard seed faith. 
Today I want to talk to you about Francis’ small faith.

Prayer

 

                  Francis’ small faith.

                  Francis’ faith journey began when he went off to war
—fighting for one of the Italian City States around the year 1200… 
he watched his childhood friends killed in battle, and himself was captured, 
for about a year he was a POW—a Prisoner of War. 
In that time of mourning and lament, something new bubbled up inside of him… 
who Francis of Assisi would become, 
can be traced to that time where God met him in lament and sorrow
that time of humiliation
—being humbled transformed his life.

And I hope, all of us for whom the words of Lamentations ring true, 

“How lonely sits the city… 
the roads mourn, the gates desolate… 
we are disempowered and pursued.” 

All of us can hope for transformation, 
for fresh callings, out of clear cries of distress and disgrace.

 

                  Francis’ small faith.

                  On the other side of the war, he had a vision of a leper!
—one of those people most everyone sought to shrink away from and avoid
—he was called out of his humiliation to humility 
He was called to embrace the leper as Christ himself… 
in fact in his strange vision—the leper IS Christ

 

                  This call to embrace the least, the last, and the lost of the world
—that’s the very thing the Disciple’s are dreading doing in today’s gospel
—Jesus has just commanded them to:
1. never undermine the little ones, 

2. instead stand up for them
3. and be a forgiving people… 

                  These commands so stun the disciples that they plead, “increase our faith!”

                  We too, when we are confronted by the challenges of caring for those in greatest need
—we too often cry out, “increase my faith!”

                  So much of Christianity these days is known for scandals and foolishness and controversies of all sorts
—but imagine… 
imagine if Christianity was known for that one thing
—embracing the least, the small, the weak and wayward
—what a large impact this small faith would have!

 

                  Francis’ small faith.

Francis had a deep desire to do God’s, and, like many people in the medieval world, he did something that most of us would find rather superstitious, 
he flipped through a copy of the 4 gospels and just sort of pointed at random. 
The three pieces of scripture he landed upon were: 
“Sell everything and give to the poor, 
take nothing on your journey, 
deny yourself.”

Unlike most people in the medieval world, 
Francis followed through on these three commands for the rest of his life, 
first as an individual and later as leader of a group of other people, 
both men and women, 
who took these words on as a way of life
—a way to live the Christian life simply.

They lived this life, not for a reward, 
but because it was who they were
—It’s who Francis was
Later it’s what it means to be a Franciscan
—its who you are, so its what you do.

 

So too, Jesus says to the disciples, “Just do it.” 
1. Don’t undermine those in great need, 
2. instead support them, and 
3. be a forgiving people… 
You don’t do that because I’m going to reward you with 
a beatific vision, 
or a full church, 
or your best life now, 

No, you do it because that’s who you are, you’re Christians, it’s what you do.

                  Imagine the relief we have to offer people
—the central message of the faith
—we’re saved by God’s grace!
—stop chasing all these little heavens you’re trying to make for yourself or your family, 9 times our of 10 you’re just creating a little hell for yourself… 
instead of striving, savor
—savor what our savior has already won for us, 
savor the life we’ve been given to live… 
Imagine…

 

                  Francis’ small faith.

                  Francis was know for preaching to the birds
—yet somehow more than the birds heard and were moved by his message. 
A small act of faith spilled out into a wider world.

                  Francis was known for hearing a command from God, 
“rebuild this church” 
and he found an old run down country church and rebuilt it 
brick by brick and beam by beam
—yet when the Pope heard of Francis’ ministry, 
he knew Francis was not simply working on a building, 
but rebuilding the Church itself—
renewing its people, 
so the faith mattered again to them.

                  Imagine faith like a mustard seed
—tiny faith, trust, in the God we find in Jesus Christ… 
Jesus Christ who can transform even the smallest faith into the most fruitful of lives.

                  Who can take: 
Marbles and make conversations with grandchildren, 
Quilts and make hope for hurricane survivors,

Food Pantry Volunteers and make a sustainable life for 38 families.

 

                  I pray that something of Francis’ small faith, might be found our own.

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