From John Michael Talbot's book on Francis of Assisi:
He Was Radical
For many people, being "Christian is roughly equivalent in time and emotional commitment to being a member of a neighborhood bridge club, having a regular seat at the local Elks lodge, or getting the familly car serviced every three thousand miles. Unfortunately, this type of Christianity is often viewed as just another civic affiliation, acquired habit, or social ritual.
Not for Francis. In him, the spark of divine love ignited a bonfire that burned away all his indifference and sparked a radical, uncompromising faith. His was not Christianity Lite. He worshiped at the altar of not watered-down deity.
Francis's minute-by-minute desire was to follow God ever closer, as he wrote in this prayer to members of his movement: "Almighty, eternal, just and merciful God, grant us in our misery that we may do for your sake alone what we know you want us to do, and always want what pleases you; so that, cleansed and enlightened interiorly and fired with the ardor of the Holy Spirit, we may be able to follow in the footsteps of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, and so make our way to you."
I suppose all of our church gatherings and "goings" will be just fine, regardless of how they look, if we are fired up by a radical love and uncompromising faith. Amen to Francis.
