Brother Fire, be kind!
From today’s Scripture: “Humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you and is able to save your souls. Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves.”—Jas 1:21-22
Desmond Tutu, Anglican archbishop and Nobel laureate, has plenty to be proud of. Yet he sought out the Franciscans in his own South Africa, and even became an honorary member. When asked once what his favorite story of St. Francis is, he recalled the story of Francis preparing for a primitive method to stop fluid flowing from his eyes. The treatment of the 13th century was to touch the vessels around the eye with a piece of fire-heated iron. “Brother Fire, be kind to me,” St. Francis said.
Tutu himself, more than once, walked into mobs to stop violence inflicted with burning tires placed around enemies’ necks. Perhaps in his own moment of humility, unafraid to enter into the messiness of the crowd and plead for peace, he had that prayer of St. Francis on his lips.
Let us pray: Loving God, help me to see as you see. Give me humbleness of heart that I might approach the people I meet today with an attitude of love and humility.
Today’s author is John Feister, an award-winning journalist and leader of Glenmary’s Communications Team.