He Can Work Through Anyone

3 Oct

“If God can work through me, he can work through anyone.”   ~Francis of Assisi

Francis saw himself as the lowest of the low, the poorest of the poor.  This was not only exemplified in his complete embracing of poverty, it was also seen in his way of living the faith with utter simplicity and love. He did not feel worthy to be considered important in any respect.  This humble, simple, poor man changed the Church.

Francis is a wonderful example to us of what it means to get out of God’s way so that God can work through us.  So often in our lives, we assert our own will.  We want to have things done the way we desire.  We want to be in charge, to be recognized, and to be honored.

If that is the case, we will barely be able to see God at work in our lives because we would be too busy crowding Him out of our lives in favor of our own wishes.  When that happens, we become ineffective witnesses for the Lord.  As a matter of fact, we can become detriments to the building of God’s Kingdom here on earth.

But when we realize and admit our weakness, our frailty, our ultimate need for God, He can fill in all that is lacking in our lives and give us what we need.  When we realize that God is in charge and quit attempting to take command on our own, we find ourselves in the position to do much good work.

Doing God’s work is what we are all called to accomplish.  Yet it is only when we are willing to admit our weakness and inability that we are able to do His will.  That was something that Francis knew intuitively.  That was something that Francis embraced lovingly.  That is what made Francis such as example to his religious order and to the Universal Church.

We don’t have to be great in the eyes of the world.  We don’t have to be the most famous.  We don’t have to have the most wealth.  We don’t need any of that because those are all empty promises.  While the world might be able to fill us with fame, wealth, and power, it can only do so in this life but it fails when it comes to supplying us what we need for eternal life.

We are not bound for this earth.  We are bound for the Kingdom of Heaven. That is why it is necessary to do God’s work and not our own.  Francis figured that out in his heart and attempted to serve God with all of his being.  May we have the grace to determine our own frailties and ask God to provide us what we need in order to serve Him.

FAITH ACTION:  Ask God to work through your words and deeds today so that you may further His Kingdom here on earth.