FS #96: The Means, Part 1 – Oct 09 – Homily – Fr Terrance

 

Fr Terrance gives the homily at Bloomington, IN, on Oct 09, 2024, on how following Christ through poverty, humility, and suffering, as St. Francis did, is the best way to grow closer to God and reach mystical union with Him.

This is a continuation of his series on Franciscan spirituality, starting with a new subsection, "The Means," which is the means to obtain the goals of spirituality, union with God. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNN151zTIO4&list=PLejh_e0-LN4xgMllKrzSasL2Hljd5BHom

In the Franciscan view, the foundation of all creation is love or charity, with Jesus Christ as its cornerstone. Our ultimate goal is mystical union with God. To achieve this, love must manifest in two phases: inclination, which draws us toward the divine through inner attraction, and determination, where we select the best means to reach this goal. St Bonaventure states that true love always ends in God, and determination allows us to choose the best path, which is Jesus Christ, who, as 1 Timothy 2:5 - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1timothy/2?5 says, is the "one mediator between God and men."

In Franciscan spirituality, Jesus’s humanity is central, as He is both the way and the means to God. John 4:23 - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/4?23 emphasizes that through Christ, true worshipers worship the Father in spirit and truth. Father explains that Jesus’s mediation extends to all aspects of life, even creation itself. Saint Francis modeled this perfectly, receiving inspiration to follow Christ through the virtues of poverty, humility, and suffering, which are means to union with God.

Father highlights that these three virtues—poverty, humility, and suffering—were cherished by Christ during His earthly life. St. Francis, following Christ’s example, embraced them with passionate love, understanding them not as curses but as gifts from God. St. Angela of Foligno described these virtues as Christ's companions, and through them, St. Francis relived Christ’s life in his own way.

As we reflect on these sanctifying virtues, Father calls upon us to see them as opportunities for grace, just as St. Francis did. This is how we can grow closer to God, being branches on the vine of Christ, receiving His divine life and becoming instruments of His will in the world.

For Further Reading
1 Timothy 2:5 - NAB - The universal mediator between God and men - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1timothy/2?5
John 4:23 - NAB - True worshipers worship the Father in spirit and truth - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/4?23
CCC 519 - Catechism - Jesus as mediator in all graces - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p122a3p1.htm#519
CCC 618 - Catechism - Jesus’ death as an act of love - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p122a4p2.htm#618

Ave Maria!

00:00 - Introduction to Franciscan Spirituality
00:29 - Mystical Union with God
01:19 - Christ's Humanity as the Path to God
01:50 - Centrality of Christ in Franciscan Spirituality
03:03 - St. Francis' Path: Poverty, Humility, Suffering

Mass: St. Denis and Companions - Opt Mem - http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=42
Readings: Wednesday in the 27th Week in Ordinary Time - http://usccb.org/bible/readings/100924.cfm
1st: gal 2:1-2, 7-14
Resp: psa 117:1, 2
Gsp: luk 11:1-4

More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=1174&r=963

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