Friends, Last week in Sunday School the children learned about Francis of Assisi and colored in an outline of an image of him. Stories and folktales about Francis and his generosity abound, especially about his giving away his mantle (a cloak like a winter coat that often was used also as a blanket). Lets consider this one and a brief reflection/prayer taken from Murray Bodo’s collection, Tales of St. Francis: Ancient Stories for Contemporary Living: --- Francis went to Rieti for an eye treatment and encountered a poor woman seeking the same remedy. Francis saw the poor woman and told his brother that they had something to return to its true owner. The Brother replied: “Let it be done, then, Father Francis, if in fact we have something like that here.” “We do indeed, brother. It is a mantle that belongs to that poor woman there. Let us give it back to her now, because she has nothing in her purse to pay for her treatment.” “Father Francis, the mantle is mine. I have not borrowed it from anyone. But please use it as long as you want. And when you no longer have any use for it, give it back to me.” The brother actually had bought the mantle to keep Francis warm. Now knowing Francis’ desire the brother added: “Of course, holy father, you need not keep the mantle for yourself. You may do with it whatever the Spirit suggests to you.” Francis, relieved and full of joy, called over to a nearby friend: “Take this mantle and 12 loaves of bread to the poor woman waiting for the doctor. Tell her the poor man to whom she loaned it no longer needs it. He thanks her and is now returning it with this bread.” The friend delivered the bread and message, but the woman thought she was being mocked and shooed away the man: “Enough with your mantel. Leave me alone.” The friend insisted. As the woman held the mantle in her reluctant hands, she suddenly realized that she was not being deceived. But fearing that what she had received so freely and easily might be as easily taken away, in the woman woke up in the middle of the night and left for home. She returned home, without receiving the eye treatment, but with the mantle in hand. --- Lord, how little is changed by mere words, especially when people cannot hear because their hunger and want is speaking louder. The laying on of one’s mantle is a symbol in Sacred Scripture of imparting one’s spirit to another, as when Elijah gave his mantle to Elisha (Ez. 2:9-15). Let me wrap others round with a warm mantle. Let my own spirit of love flow into others by divesting myself of that excess which really belongs to them and laying it gently upon their cold and naked shoulders. (Bodo, p.155) Blessings, Beth
Posted on: Sat, 04 Oct 2014 00:00:00 +0000
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