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The Lord Is My chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Wednesday, Memorial of St. Francis of Assisi, 04 October 2023
Nehemiah 2:1-8 <*{{{{>< + ><}}}}*> Luke 9:57-62
Praise and glory to you, loving God our Father on this most joyous day of the Memorial of St. Francis of Assisi, one of those who truly followed your Son Jesus Christ in complete freedom to be poor and empty for him and others.
Grant us the same gift of freedom, Father; teach us to be like St. Francis who was totally free for Christ, living in poverty and simplicity, renouncing the lures of this world so he can be solidly faithful in Jesus and his gospel.
Many times in this life, in this world with so many things meant to lighten our lives to be able to do and accomplish much, the opposite happens; we save so much time in doing our jobs and other tasks easily but the more we get tied even enslaved to our gadgets, selves, and other preoccupations that separate us from one another, especially our loved ones and you; we save money and earn so much by doing less but the more we desire to earn more, to have more wealth in all its forms, becoming more selfish.
Free our selves, purify our intentions and cleanse our dispositions to be free for Jesus, free from persons and things that hold us to truly follow Christ.
As Jesus and his disciples were proceeding on their journey someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus answered him, “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.”
Luke 9:57-58
Thank you, dear God for the desire within for Jerusalem; what we lack is the willingness, the drive, and the enthusiasm to search and follow you in Christ to Jerusalem where the sick and the poor are like what St. Francis did; we lack the deeper longing and resolve to rebuild our destroyed Jerusalem of relationships and intimacy with you like Nehemiah in the first reading.
Like St. Francis, may we be free and faithful in Jesus always, finding him not only in others and nature but most especially at the Cross where you have redeemed us as your people. Amen.
