Pastor’s Notes

“…Give them food yourself!”

Really? There won’t be enough. They‘ll eat me out of house and home. Our fears at God’s lavish generosity bite at us. There is always room! There is always enough! St. Francis’s Canticle of the Sun was composed when the mayor and bishop of Assisi got into a street fight in 1224. “Be praised, Lord, for those who grant pardon, for love of You and bear infirmity and tribulation. Blessed are those who endure in peace; by You Most High, shall they be crowned. The Holy Spirit makes forgiveness possible for us and for our world and it praises the Creator of life endlessly.  This weekend continues to celebrate the lavish indulgence of a God who never tires of filling our lives with bread and forgiveness. For more than 800 years, the anniversary of the Pardon of Assisi welcomed back to the table of communion those who have wandered away from church.  Some with good reason. It still is “bread from heaven” that gives life to the world. Francis calls this feast the “Portiuncula,” the first Franciscan Basilica. Our Lady of Angels was a ruined country chapel where he heard the gospel in a way that turned his lifestyle upside down. Literally a little portion so he rebuilt it. The Eucharist we celebrate is a little portion of heaven. It still moves a Franciscan heart.

The story is told of Fr. Matthew Poetzl who was one of our most beloved friar pastors in the early sixties. He was stationed at Mission San Antonio and had to go to the neighboring town of Lake Nacimiento each week for Mass.  He would often take one of the brothers along with him.  One weekend it was Br. Phillip Morales, a dear friend of mine. As they were walking along the road, they saw some picnickers with a full table. “My, that sure looks good,” said Fr. Matt to Br. Phillip.  He sauntered toward them.  “Can I help you?” said one of the picnicking families.  “Well,” said Fr. Matthew “Poor brother here hasn’t had anything to eat all day and I was just wondering if you might have something for him?” Br. Phillip said, “I wished for a hole to open up in the ground so that I could crawl in.”

Jesus tells the disciples…”Give them food yourself.”  There is no need for them to go away.”    Embarrassment nearly drove the disciples to drink.  Jesus then took – blessed – broke – and shared it —- The sacred Eucharistic pattern. And there were 12 baskets of leftovers…enough for the 12 tribes of Israel…for the whole human family. Imagine?

Our world and lives do best when they are in holy communion. When we can take, bless, break and share what we are, there is enough. And it sustains others. The message of the Gospel today is the same as what our guts are telling us when we read the newspapers reach morning. Our world and our nation have got to be rebuilt on a different standard. St. Francis heard the voice of Christ at another ruined chapel, San Damiano… “GO AND REPAIR MY CHURCH; IT IS FALLING INTO RUIN.” Our task is to rebuild our church and our world in a way that no one has to be hungry or anguish in thirst of whatever kind, ever again.

Quite a mission!  A gentle week.

Fr. Michael Weldon, OFM