St. Francis

Though the feast day of our favorite saint fell on a Sunday this year, I've no doubt that it is well with him that his day be eclipsed by the Sunday Mass. I am reading a little book of excepts from the writings of St. Francis, which I will share with you over the next few days.

All my brothers, let us pay attention to what the Lord syas: Love your enemies and do good to those who hate you for our Lord Jesus Christ, whose footprints we must follow, called his betrayer a friend and willingly offered himself to his executioners. Our friends, therefore, are all those who unjustly inflict upon us distress and anguish, shame and injury, sorrow and punishment, matyrdom and death. We must love them greatly for we shall possesseternal life becuase of what they bring us.

It's not easy to think about the people who hate us & wish us harm as occassions of grace & salvation. Certainly a reversal of expectation. The question hidden in this passage is: How big - or little - is our love?