Being a Fool for Christ

 In the Franciscan tradition, there is an image of being a fool for Christ. The encounter is called to bring joy to our hearts by discovering what is precious within us. This is especially true when we reflect on the beatitudes where we are called to discover an inner appreciation of the compassion of God. It renders the words learn mercy not sacrifice that the Gospel of Matthew seeks to proclaim as the way of discovering God in daily life. This looks at nurturing a rich internal life that meets the vagaries of what can seem to confront us.

So we come before God with open hands knowing that each day is a gift that cannot be possessed but can be received. This calls for a certain gentleness that does not grasp after things but seeks what is right and whole. This merciful presence allows us to grieve with others from a heart that is not divided but seeks peace deep within. Ultimately it calls us to become our true self which is not swayed by the opinion of others.

This often can cause us to feel that we seem to be foolish in the eyes of others who seek power, success, and relevance. Yet we know when we stake our lives on what others consider important we mute ourselves. We become voiceless or invisible to what God sees as valuable and precious. So each day we are called to listen to that inner voice and how we reflect it to our world. When we allow ourselves this encounter it shapes who we are and what we are to become.