Minister's Post for January

To see the Face of Christ

     As we pause and reflect in this season of joy, let’s think a bit about the word ‘epiphany.’ ‘Epiphany’ is an “Aha!” moment; the moment when a person is struck with a life-changing realization that can often begin with a small, ordinary experience.[1]

     Francis had such an epiphany. After suffering defeat in battle, his imprisonment in Perugia, and his failure as a knight, Francis was deeply struggling. Eventually he set out again to become a glorious knight, this time in the Papal Army – but had a dream in which he heard a voice, ‘Francis, which is better, to serve the master or the servant?” He replied, ‘Why, Sir, the master of course.’ Francis then heard the voice instruct him to return to Assisi where it would be shown to him what he was to do.

On the way, Francis encountered a leper. Rather than steering clear out of revulsion and concern for his own safety, Francis dismounted his horse, overcame his terror, and approached the leper. Francis gave the leper both money… and a kiss. Something incredible happened inside Francis at that moment. He had a joyous ‘Aha!’ moment, an epiphany – he saw that the face of the leper was the face of Christ.[2]

     As we each reflect on the Epiphany, where wise travelers from distant places became witnesses to the Incarnation of God in the child Jesus – this infant who was a divine King. Let us also look for the small ‘epiphanies’ in our own lives. Like Francis, let us reach out to the marginalized with not only concrete assistance, but also with love.
     May we all reach out to others with love, have the courage to put fear aside, and to ‘work Mercy.’  I pray that we’re open to epiphanies in our own lives – and like Francis did as he encountered the leper with love – to see the face of Christ.

Pace e Bene –
Laura, OFS
Minister, SLR Fraternity

[1] “Literary Terms.” Literary Terms. 1 June 2015. Web. 3 Nov. 2016. <https://literaryterms.net/>.
[2] “Jesus Christ Is the Fullness of the Incarnation of God.” Surrounded by Love: Seven Teachings from Saint Francis, by Murray Bodo, Franciscan Media, 2018.