First Day Blogging

Today is my first day blogging for the Franciscan Spiritual Center.  I come with excitement but some anxiety not knowing what you, our readers, would like most to hear.  You'll have to direct me as I move forward into this new blogging world.  Today is an exquisite day in the neighborhood, bright sunshine and blue skies everywhere with a obvious hint of Fall in the air.    There is a stillness and an excitement around here as we anticipate the Feast of St. Francis this week.  We celebrate Transitus on Wednesday night at 7 PM and the liturgy for the Feast on Thursday at 7 PM.  All are welcome to join us.


The excitement is deep within our hearts as we ready for the feast.  Our call down a Franciscan path is different because it does not ask, “what would Jesus do?” but “how does Jesus live in me?”  (Delio, Ilia (2011-06-29). Franciscan Prayer (p. 147).  Kindle Edition.)   As we ponder the life of Francis and our life in a Franciscan Spiritual Center we recognize that what's really important is the authenticity of the person that enables us to be in relationship, that enables Jesus to live through us  No one ever doubted Francis' sincerity.  All were awestruck by that clear and singular desire Francis had to imitate Jesus, our brother.  And so the challenge continues for us to do the same.  Sometimes in our lives we do things because others expect it of us and other times we allow the life that wants to live within us to manifest itself fully-- that is what it is to be authentic.  To look in our hearts and to find the dwelling place where we are one with this good God of extravagant love and to let it move out of our eyes into the eyes of those we meet,  That's how Jesus lived.  That's what Francis understood and that's what's important to us. What we do is not all that important but who we are inside our heart is what Francis shows us is key.