WEDNESDAY
Last week and this week in the devotionals we are looking at some stories of people’s encounters with the presence of God to give us some perspective on the various ways we can experience the presence of God. Last week we are looking at biblical characters. This week we will explore the stories of some believers’ encounters with God in the history of the church.
In the year 1205, within the dilapidated chapel of San Damiano near Assisi, a young Francis encountered a moment that would forever transform his life. While praying before an ancient Byzantine crucifix, he heard the voice of Jesus speaking to him, saying, "Francis, go and repair my house, which, as you see, is falling into ruin."
Initially, Francis took these words literally, believing he was being called to physically restore the crumbling chapel. He began rebuilding San Damiano stone by stone, selling his possessions and even some of his father's cloth to fund the repairs. This act led to a dramatic confrontation with his father, culminating in Francis renouncing his inheritance and even his clothes before the Bishop of Assisi.
However, the true meaning of Christ's message would gradually unfold. The "house" that needed repair was not just the physical church building, but the spiritual Church itself. Francis's radical embrace of poverty, his love for all creation, and his commitment to living the Gospel would inspire a movement that would indeed help rebuild the medieval Church.
This reform that Francis started was much needed in the church of his day. The church had become immensely wealthy and church leaders were largely concerned with luxury and political power. The clergy was widely corrupt with immorality and greed. The Pope had vast influence over kings. The Crusades were just wrapping up in Francis’s day. God’s call to Francis brought a much needed correction and timely reform to the church in his day.
The Franciscan order still exists today. Whereas this way of living can still be used by God to point us to the truth of the gospel amidst a luxurious, consumer culture, it seems more likely to me that the continuation of this order today is an example of taking something God has said and done for one season and attempting to make it a requirement for all time. What began as a call and move of God for reform has now become an attempt to control God and replicate what he did then. In my assessment, that is where the order is today. Sadly, this is the track of many other movements in Church history. Instead of continually seeking God in loving relationship with him we try to replicate former moves of God in the past and draw our spiritual vitality from them instead of the Living God.
Reflection
How do you see God moving today to reform his church? Are you listening to those moves of God?