Homily of Fr. Paul Panaretos, S.J. on Disposition Days Retreat
Rebuild and Repair
Rebuild and Repair
To reform, we know, means to reshape, to change for the better, to improve and to adjust. It is both personal and what people do for organizations. At times people welcome reform; sometimes others resist it. Welcoming and resisting reform usually happen together. Often reform is unclear. That was true for St. Francis of Assisi.
His wealthy merchant father wanted Francis to be in his business; once the life of every party, Francis’ desire changed. Things hard to name pulled at Francis. We know our reasons to be here are not ones we would voice casually or to everyone. Spiritual movements within don’t lend themselves to casual conversation. Francis divested himself of his easy life and his wealthy future because that life no longer attracted. What he would do was not clear to him.
In a rundown chapel one day Francis experienced some direction. He could only describe a voice urged him: ‘Repair my house which, as you can see, is falling into ruins.’ Francis took it literally and for a while rebuilt chapels. One day he heard the gospel recalling Jesus sent his disciples to proclaim God’s reign simply and without cost. Francis realized it was not buildings that needed repair and reform but human hearts and minds and attitudes—just as Jesus urged! Francis found his reforming direction and ministry; he summarized it briefly: “be simple, humble and pure.”1 People saw Francis live those and were astonished; they attracted many to him. They desired God to heal and refashion their hearts.
Ignatius of Loyola was fond of Francis. Reading about Francis moved him to dispose his entire being to God. His disposition included various ways to keep being disposed toward Jesus and his gospel. Ignatius discovered ways to pray and habits of prayer that he offered others. Those ways and habits of Ignatius refashion and reshape us if we give ourselves to them. We may appear no different when we return home; the ways we see the world and our roles in it will be renewed. What we see and do may even astonish us.
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- In a letter he wrote to all the faithful.
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