From the Pastor’s Desk,

From the great Cathedrals of Europe, to the private chapels in some of the most beautiful
castles, one of the most prayerful is that of Assisi and the story of Francis. The
small town of Assis on the hill top has a different feel about it, to me there is a presence,
not found in some of those other places. Francis having left behind his way of
life that his father had planned for him when he was somewhere around 24 years of
age had a mystical summons while praying. He had not quite figured out what God
wanted him to do.
He was in prayer in the church of San Damiano which was on the verge of collapsing
from age. The mysterious voice from the Byzantine crucifix gave him a sense of direction,
“Francis, go and repair my house. You see it is all falling down.” Over the next
two years Francis struggled to rebuild the broken down church, begging stones and
mortar from the amused townspeople of Assisi. This was the beginning of his public ministry and it seemed ludicrous to nearly everyone.
We understand as did Francis later on in life that God was really telling St. Francis to rebuild the corruption-riddled Church, not the poor little collapsing San Damiano chapel. Lugging stones and propping up the walls of an old, collapsing chapel was only practice for strengthening the spiritual foundations of the Catholic Church. So often we focus only on the standard interpretation on an important message, God’s will for us always surpasses our power of comprehension. “Repair my house,” was more than a little brick and mortar. What God really intends comes only with time, prayer and discernment.
Years later, Francis stood before Pope Innocent III and challenged him to step down from the Papal Throne and take off his elaborate robes and serve the people. He did not have the strength to walk away from the power, but sent Francis out into the world to change the Church from within. He commissioned Francis and his followers as the Franciscans to serve the poor, to teach and to preach. Eight hundred years later they are still at work.
Many people have asked me, “Why doesn’t God just tell me, it would be so much easier?” When God whispers in our heart, in our ear we are hearing only the topmost layer of what God wishes to impress upon us. Take the time to mull the message over, to explore its depths and to make sure that you/we really hear what God has to say, not what you/we think God ought to say, or what we want God to tell us. As we go through these strange times listen to God and be open to what He is whispering to you in your heart and soul.
~Rev. Lewis Hejna
Fr. Joseph Stoverink’s going away celebration will be on July 19th at 6:30 pm. Stop by and thank him for his 3 years of ministry here at St. Agnes.