As I pondered Jesus’ words for us this Sunday about the central importance of love, my mind was drawn back to the Holy Land in the year 1219. At that time, the Holy Land was enveloped in a violent conflict between the Muslims and Christians. St. Francis came to the Holy Land with members of the Fifth Crusade, but he came unarmed. Unlike the crusaders, St. Francis wasn’t there to participate in the bloodshed. He simply wanted to try to bring peace in the most direct possible way. Along with another Franciscan brother named Illuminatus, St. Francis boldly traveled into the Muslim territory and was captured by their army. He humbly requested a meeting with the sultan, a man named Melek-el Kamel. Miraculously, instead of being killed, as was customary with captured Christians, St. Francis was granted an audience with the sultan.
St. Francis offered himself to the sultan and his religious scholars to undergo a literal trial-by-fire. He offered to literally walk through fire as a test to reveal if his faith was the true faith. His request was denied and the sultan ultimately resisted St. Francis’ attempt to convince him to convert, but the humble saint had obviously made an impression. Not only was St. Francis released without harm, the Sultan allowed him and Illuminatus to visit the holy sites of Christianity and pray there. The Sultan’s parting words to St. Francis and his companion were: “Pray for me that God may reveal to me the law and faith which is most pleasing to him.” Within the next century, the Muslims in power in the Holy Land would allow a Christian presence in the Holy Land, inviting St. Francis’ order, the Franciscans, to be the custodians of the churches and Christian holy sites there, a role which they faithfully carry out to this day.
What I find so moving about this story is that it shows the power of true Christian charity at work. Christianity isn’t just some pie in the sky religion that we are meant to secretly practice within the comfort of our own four walls. It calls us to boldness in action. Love of God and neighbor is meant to drive us in all we do. Putting our faith in Jesus means allowing His grace to thoroughly change us from the inside out. St. Francis allowed Jesus to cleanse his heart so that it could be filled with unbelievable power. This power enabled him to think not with human ingenuity, but with divinely inspired ingenuity. He could have easily joined the soldiers in armed conflict, but instead, St. Francis took the Sword of the Spirit in hand and boldly sought an audience with the leader of the opposition. This reminds me of the simplicity of David, who proposed to challenge Goliath head on with nothing but trust in the Lord.
I wonder what would happen in our own hearts if we opened them to the Lord’s radical call to loving service? How much would our families, friends and colleagues be transformed if we chose to let the love of God thoroughly transform our heart, mind, soul and strength? The example of St. Francis should give us a small snapshot. Even though he didn’t succeed in his immediate task, he planted seeds which ended up having a profound effect in history.
Brothers and sisters, I want to encourage you this Sunday to pray for a deeper conversion of your heart, soul, mind and strength. I pray that we have that conversion of mind which inspires us to invite the Heavenly Father – and not the world – to guide our vision and plans. Father, what are you calling me to do today? Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done. In those places where sin has taken root and damaged our souls, I pray we embrace that humility of St. Francis to submit to God and allow Him to thoroughly cleanse us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. With renewed souls, we can have the freedom to truly love and serve our neighbor. I pray that we allow our minds to be reordered. So often our thoughts are focused on selfish and worldly things. Let’s heed the words of St. Paul: “Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Father, transform our minds so that we think as you think. Hallowed be thy name! I pray that we rely not on our own feeble strength, but on the strength of the Holy Spirit, through which we move mountains: “Amen, I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Lord Jesus, help us to find our strength in the daily bread we have in the Eucharist. Give us this day our daily bread.
When we love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, this will open us up to be filled to overflowing with His love so that we can go out and love our neighbor as ourselves, letting His love flow through us as the saints have done throughout history.
+ Heavenly Father, open our hearts to your love and mercy so we can be transformed by you. Jesus, thank you for the abundant grace you won for us on the Cross which draws us to the Father. Holy Spirit, bring true, deep conversion in our hearts. Empower us to let Your love flow through us onto our neighbor. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen. +