“Don’t call me a saint. I don’t want to be dismissed that easily.”

Thanks for weighing in.

Peace,
Jamie

I think, ironically, we do actually ‘need’ people like Francis. Because Jesus was the son of God, we create distance between ourselves and his lifestyle and his express teachings as unachievable for mere mortals. Our worship becomes a reason to excuse ourselves from following really closely. Then someone like Francis (or Mother Teresa, to bring it closer) comes along and re-embodies Jesus all over again (actually doing things we said just couldn’t be done), which makes Jesus and his justice more disturbingly close again. We actually do need such persons to remind us that his justice is within reach, to testify that Jesus’ more radical calls can be followed–even today, even by normal humans.

Of course, we create the same distance between ourselves and these ’saints’ soon enough, trying to imagine that the Age to come and its idea of righteousness are far away, unreachable, contrary to the central message of Jesus himself.

Peace,
Jamie

The “quarrels” that Paul talked about included the people saying “I follow Christ” to which Paul replied, “is Christ divided?” We need to stop cultural reactions and have intimate relationships of trust. Jamie, I know you and I know you’re not crazy off the Francis deep end…I know you are following Jesus…I know that because I know you.

Some Muslims have the same critique of all Christianity (this I’ve heard with my own ears) – that Christians actually put more stock in Paul that in the words of Jesus. We cannot get so locked in on the legalities (which is man’s tendency) that we forget that Christ told us we are his friends if we obey his commands. And in the next breath he says “and this is my commandment that you…” make sure all the words are right? Have your theological ducks in a row? Have the proper systematic thought? Nope, none of that…Love one another.

And I’m not talking about the crazy “all that matters is love” thing, like weird. I’m talking like the normal, sane, secure in Jesus “all that matters is love” thing. Study is important, manifestos and declarations are fine (a little dangerous though…I don’t trust ‘em) but love is the thing…the container in which it all must rest. If “the right way of looking at things” is the chunks of cereal and Jesus is the bowl then love is the cool, cold milk…ahh yeah.

I have never met Francis personally but I love and trust him as a brother in Christ as he has been instrumental in helping me understand Jesus. I love Paul too. They aren’t just ideas, they are people, brothers…big brothers that we can look up to and try to emulate.

1 Corinthians 11:1 “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” – St. Paul

P.S. I fixed my link.