Ecclesiastes 3: 1 – 8
 
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
 
a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to throw away;
a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.
 
Reflection
 
On his return from Egypt Francis handed over the leadership of his community which had now grown to around 5,000 members.  Francis, however, decreed that nothing could change and so became something of a backseat driver!  His own health, however, was poor; he seemed to have digestive and eye problems.  Towards the end of his life he was believed to have received the Stigmata –  the marks of Christ’s Passion – on his own body which added to his sufferings.  Francis died, in Assisi, at the age of 40 just 17 years after he had received papal blessing for his way of life. 
 
Francis, like both the Cathars and Valdo rejected earthly wealth – seeking to live in simple apostolic poverty, preaching repentance, and urging folk to a deeper discipleship lived in practical service.  They did this as European society underwent significant changes with the growth of cities, a mercantile class, and early capitalism which left both the poor, and the nobility, behind.  Unlike the Cathars, Francis saw the world as good – no Cathar believer could have composed the Canticle of Creation which linked God with the created order.  Unlike Valdo, and the Cathars, Francis did not condemn the Church.  There is a deep irony in that Francis rejected the wealth of his class but not that of the Church.  Instead, he looked, first to his bishop, then to the Pope for protection never criticising the Church’s wealth and power – using both to further his own ministry.
 
The 13th Century reform movements we’ve explored over the last month, offer food for thought for our 21st Century discipleship.  Francis was a rebel who still offers much to us on the goodness of creation and the need to live in simple harmony with nature as we face ecological disaster.  Valdo offers the urgency of taking the Gospel message seriously even in the face of trouble and persecution as we live in a culture ignorant of the Gospel’s claims.  The Cathars teach something of finding spirituality in every aspect of life and in living non-violently in a world hurtling to war.    
 
Prayer
 
Most High, Glorious God,
enlighten the darkness of our minds.
Give us a right faith,
a firm hope
and a perfect charity,
so that we may always
and in all things
act according to Your Holy Will.
Amen.