FS #27: Soul of Franciscan Spirituality, Part 7 – May 24 – Homily – Fr Terrance
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Fr Terrance gives the homily at Bloomington, IN on May 24, 2023, where he continues his series on Franciscan Spirituality, focusing today on how love, the soul of this spirituality, also includes love of neighbor as Our Lord teaches.
In our exploration of Franciscan spirituality, we focus today on love, specifically loving our neighbor. This divine call comes from our pursuit of God's love. As Christ-followers, we are moved to love as He loves, as seen in [Mark 12:30-31](https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/12?30) - love the Lord your God and your neighbor as yourself. Thus, we can't separate love for God and others; anyone who claims to love God but hates their brother, as stated in [1 John 4:20](https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1john/4?20) - he who doesn't love his brother whom he has seen, can't love God whom he has not seen, is mistaken.
Jesus calls us to love one another as He loved us in [John 13:34](https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/13?34) - love one another as I have loved you. We love each other because we are parts of Christ, the vine, as expressed in [John 15:5](https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/15?5) - branches of the single vine who is Christ. God's love runs in us, motivating us to love one another ([1 John 4:7, 12](https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1john/4?7)) - let us love one another for love is of God.
Our love should be about drawing others to God's love, not for personal satisfaction. Our neighbor isn't a second object of love but an opportunity to extend God's love. Therefore, we love our neighbors not for their sake, but for God's. Our ultimate love is God, with everything else being secondary.
However, our love for God should naturally include love for our neighbor and creation. Loving them shouldn't distract from our primary love for God. St. Francis' example teaches us to love others as a mother loves her son, going beyond self-interest to a genuine concern for others.
Francis demonstrated such love when he washed a leper's sores and transformed him with love. He asked for spiritual gifts for his neighbor rather than himself. His goal was to draw people closer to God, showing his deep love for God and others. He taught us to love much the love of the One who has loved us much. His love for God was so intense that he sought to feel Christ's suffering and the love that drove Him to endure such suffering.
Therefore, let's implore Our Lady's grace to love those around us with God's love in our hearts. Praised be Jesus and Mary.
00:00 – Introduction
00:07 – Franciscan Spirituality and Loving our Neighbor
00:34 – Love in Christianity: Biblical References
03:16 – The Philosophy Behind Love and Charity
05:32 – Saint Francis’ Views on Love and Charity Towards Neighbor
08:00 – Exhortations and Prayers of St. Francis on Love
Ave Maria!
This is a continuation of his series of homilies on Franciscan Spirituality - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNN151zTIO4&list=PLejh_e0-LN4xgMllKrzSasL2Hljd5BHom
The material for this series comes primarily from Ciccarelli, Marciano M., "I capisaldi della spiritualità francescana" in Italian, which translates as "The Cornerstones of Franciscan Spirituality". No English translations exist at the time of this recording.
Mass: Dedication of the Basilica of St Francis - Feast
Readings: - http://usccb.org/bible/readings/052423.cfm
1st: rev 21:1-5
Resp: psa 95:1-7
Gsp: joh 10:22-30
More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=652
Also on Facebook: https://fb.watch/kKm9LGk92Q/
and YouTube: https://youtu.be/a4yWiAaEM1Y
