The journey to holiness can be tough and exhausting. Luckily we have the examples of Christ and the saints to make it so much easier. This blog will give 7 ways Jesus is our model in holiness and 3 characteristics of Christ that St. Francis of Assisi embodies.
Prayer
“After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray” (Matthew 14:23). Jesus takes time to be in solitude with God. If Jesus needs time to pray to the Father we, as sinners, need to follow this example. Jesus also also incorporates prayer with His disciples in an appropriate manner as He teaches them to pray the Our Father in chapter 6 of the gospel of Matthew. Are we making prayer a priority in our lives? Do we make an effort to participate in prayer opportunities or gatherings with our community? Take advantage of group gatherings at your Newman center or parish and try to go to one event a week besides Sunday Mass.
Sacrificial Love
Christ was willing to die on the cross for our sins. He saved us from sin and death despite the humiliation and pain He had to undergo. Sacrificing some time on Facebook or an episode to say a Rosary will be well worth your time. Giving up your time to help our a friend for the good of the other even though you might have something else you wanted to get done is a great way to embody Christ’s sacrificial love.
Love for the Poor
Jesus always sought company with the poor. He had a special love to help them know Him and help them to have a conversion of heart. It’s important to get involved in your community and volunteer. Getting involved at the St. Vincent de Paul society at your church or volunteering at a soup kitchen are ways you can embody Christ’s love for the poor.
Wisdom
Jesus had knowledge and experience with the Father. His judgement was always perfect and sought to share the wisdom the Father gave Him. Spending time in prayer will give us more knowledge and experience with God. Seek moments to share your wisdom with your less developed brothers and sisters of Christ.
Humility
Christ always points His deeds back to the Father. He lives a simple life and looks to empty Himself of worldly things and fill Himself up with the Spirit. Are we always looking for the next best thing? Do we look for praise when we do something notable? Always remember that we can only accomplish these tasks because God gave us these gifts.
Obedience to the Father
Christ lived a life He according to the Father’s will. At the agony in the garden Jesus is praying “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.” (Luke 22:42). He knows He is about to undergo immense suffering and, not surprisingly, is a little reluctant to start this journey, but Jesus loves the Father so much and trusts in His plan that He willingly and lovingly obeys. How many times are we disobedient to the Father? When all of our friends are going out to party do we want to partake in the drunken festivities? It’s hard to sacrifice a social life and acceptance for the glory of God. None of always succeed, but remembering that our choices effect our eternal life helps me to say yes to God.
Chastity
Christ lived a life of virginity. Like our priests He chose to live a life of celibacy. God’s mission for Christ was best fit for a celibate man. If Jesus could live an entire life of chastity and purity can’t we control our lives for a few years? Okay He was fully divine and without sin so He’s got a leg up on us. We must look at the other with respect and love and remember that chastity is for the good of the other and will make us happier in the end because it is according to God’s will. Easier said than done. I recommend praying for an increase in the virtue of chastity if you are struggling with this.
St. Francis
Obedience to the Father
St. Francis was very wealthy. He was a successful businessman and lived a life consumed by vanity and the things of this world. It was while he was on business that St. Francis had an interaction with a poor beggar and his heart was tugged by the Lord. He was conflicted by his desire for the wealth of his family and the will of God. The Lord appeared to him in a dream and revealed His will of poverty for St. Francis. The wealth of the world was attractive to Francis and the life of poverty was daunting. Like Christ, he trusted in God’s plan and was obedient to His will for the good of the kingdom. Francis found that once he submitted to the will of God he found his true wealth in love for the Lord.
Sacrificial Love
St. Francis loved God so much that he freely and lovingly gave up his life of worldly wealth. Francis was willing to do anything and everything for love of the Lord even though it too cost him humiliation and insult. In the Writings of St. Francis he states “No matter where they are, the friars must always remember that they have given themselves up completely and handed over their whole selves to our Lord Jesus Christ, and so they should be prepared to expose themselves to every enemy, visible or invisible, for love of him” (p. 44). St. Francis was also so united with Jesus that he suffered intimately with Him through the stigmata. Although he was in immense pain it only increased his love for God. He rejoiced in his suffering and knew it was for the greater glory of the Kingdom. The stigmata also presented more persecution and negative attention. Despite all of this Francis always bore his cross boldly, freely, and lovingly.
Love for the Poor
Despite St. Francis wealthy upbringing he had a heart for the poor at a young age. It was a certain beggar who was the beginning of his conversion. By the will of God St. Francis desired to live a life like the poor. Francis entered a monastery that required him to live out the lowliness and poverty of Christ at all times and do so with joy. St. Francis would purposely go to places where the poor and suffering were located to offer consolation and the love of God. Like Christ he would spend time with lepers and treat them with such love that he would even kiss them. Francis was also always very generous to the poor. He had little, but he always gave what he did have. Many times he was even found giving the clothes off of his back to beggars.
faithfultwentysomething 