Preacher: St Francis t’Assisi
Let us imagine that we have this saint before us, and that we are hearing directly from him about the matter which shone so bright in his life.
Poverty
My dear ones, listen and understand. Christ was born poor, lived poor, and died poor. Christ threatened the rich with eternal loss and likened their riches to thorns.
The poor are despised and oppressed, and this is contrary to the view of the world, which Christ condemned by word and example – Christ, God made man, the true wisdom that came into the world to give true peace in contempt of riches, honours, and sensual pleasures.
Let him be kept as an enemy of your spiritual life whoever in any way attempts to separate you from the sentiments of the Lord Jesus Christ, who said that one’s enemies are one’s own people. Yes, those who love you according to the flesh give you advice against the spirit.
And beware of the deceptions of the devil, who knows how to hide them under the pretext of the honour of God, of the good of the souls, and of the prosperity of the Church.
Our God is the Lord of all creatures. Amen.
Let us give thanks to the Lord, our God. It is right to give him thanks and praise.
(St George Preca, The Echo of Our Friends)
