Jesus reigns from his throne in heaven and governs his Church, not in some far-off and distant way, but in a very intimate and loving way. We can speak to him, and he can speak to us, and he does so powerfully and consistently through the scriptures and the writings of the saints. In these sources, we find the voice of God in a clear and trustworthy way.
Additionally, however, Jesus speaks to us in the silence of prayer, and in the voice of our conscience moving us to actions of love. It is this latter presence of Christ’s voice in quiet prayer that many in our Church today fail to accept. I believe this comes from a profound lack of faith in the present, truly human, and actual life of the risen and ascended Jesus, who is still alive and has been for nearly two-thousand years after his death and resurrection. St. Francis had faith that he served a very much alive Lord, who he could follow and serve just as he could follow and serve an earthly Lord as a knight.
Before recording the major call of Francis, which he received in the small and broken-down church of San Damiano, which I will reflect on next week, St. Bonaventure writes a short little poem about the source of Francis’ wisdom. In this small poem, we read this brief but meaningful sentence:
“Francis, the servant of the Most High, had no other teacher in these matters except Christ.”
(Quoted from The Life of St. Francis, Translated by Ewert Cousin)
What Bonaventure is referring to by “these matters” is St. Francis’ radical life of prayer, fasting, almsgiving, poverty, and desire to live like Christ in the Gospel. Francis listened deeply to the Word of God in the Gospels. It was there that he knew the voice of Christ still lived, and it is there that Francis constantly looked for guidance. He knew also, however, that Jesus could speak to him and teach him in his own heart. Thus, we see that he heard and trusted the voice of Christ in his dream calling him to be a knight, and the voice of Christ in his heart leading him to embrace and kiss the leper.
Francis believed Jesus was still alive and able to speak to him.
This sounds so simple, almost too simple even to write down. How many of us, though, at one time or other in our lives, have treated Jesus more as simply a character in a story from the past, more as a historical figure like George Washington or Buddha, than as a currently alive and reigning man (who is God) who wants to have a real relationship with us? He wants us to speak to him and to listen to him.
Admittedly, he speaks differently than the friend sitting next to us. We talk to Jesus in our hearts and he speaks to us there, most often in silence and most often without words (though to some saints, he has even spoken out loud in words their ears can hear). But is this form of silent communication therefore less real? No, not at all. It just requires a form of listening that we have to practice.
Jesus is alive. He is a moment’s consideration away. He hears our every thought and when we give him our attention, he will give us his. He wants to teach us to do his will. He may not speak in a way we can understand right away, but in time our understanding will grow. Through the intercession of St. Francis, may our faith be strengthened to live with, speak to, learn from, and serve the living Lord Jesus, our high priest and king. Amen!