Oblates of St. Francis de Sales

New DeSales World Newsletter - Summer Edition

15th Sunday In Ordinary Time (July 13, 2003)

Readings Am 7: 12-15 Ps 85: 9-14 Eph 1: 3-14 or 1: 3-10 Mk 6: 7-13

Suggested Emphasis

"The Lord took me from following the flock, and said to me, Go, prophesy to my people Israel."

"In Him we were also chosen, destined in accord with the purpose of the One who accomplishes all things, according to the intention of his will, so that we might exist for the praise of his glory we who first hoped in Christ."

Salesian Perspective

St. Francis de Sales once traveled to Bellevaux with a young priest where he relived his first days as a missionary in the Chablais. The residents were very timid and wary. The two could not get any lodging, no wine, no seats to sit on, had to eat poor bread for which they paid enormously - a little cheese, a little water, having no table other than the ground - no tablecloth other than their own cloaks.

Francis said: "Here is the real apostolic life, the life where one can imitate in some fashion the poverty of Jesus Christ and his Apostles. I am accustomed to this because for two or three years I experienced the same cruelty from the residents in various villages." Even with these setbacks, or because of them, Francis loved the people whose pastor he was. He gave everyone a fraternal welcome and led them in apostolic generosity which he himself practiced. He put into practice: "It is better to be humble with the poor than to share booty with the proud." (Proverbs. 16: 19) He knew the apostolic spirit: "He is close to the broken-hearted; he soothes the dejected spirit." (Proverbs 33:19)

Francis listened to God's voice and added his own to the Lord's. His keen intellect and educational background prepared him how to argue, yet he was able to turn aside hatred. Francis had a great desire to debate the Protestant ministers, but few took up the challenge. A few in his audience secretly took notes from his sermons, copied them, and passed them around Geneva. There was little response at first, but later there came great and many conversions.

One can do a great deal in his or her own style of preaching, teaching, and work. It is a great gift to allow the Lord's Spirit to work in us and others, not to be discouraged by hardships, disappointments, and our own way of wanting to get things done. Many great people have gone before us and have shown us the way. Francis showed the power of the virtue of hope, hope which eventually produced great fruit, due to the insight and vigor and determination of a saint who was unwilling to allow frustration and pain to prevent him from preaching the word of the Lord.

Rev. Michael S. Murray, OSFS, is Executive Director of the
De Sales Spirituality Center in Washington, DC