"Rebuild..."
by: friar Jason Warrer, OFM Conv.
When we first arrived in Shamokin/Coal Township, we stopped at the Heritage Restaurant where we met Kathy, a friend of Fr. Lasky. Kathy was sharing with us how Shamokin used to be, how it has been dying out, and how she is rebuilding Shamokin and making it a better place that people who pass by may stop and enjoy the town that has so much history. She felt a call from God to start rebuilding the town, one building at a time (something we were able to help her with later in our stay).
As we sat and listened to her story, it reminded me of the similarity to St. Francis. I remembered how Francis started in the rundown church of San Damiano, and he heard Jesus from the crucifix tell him, "Francis, go and rebuild my church that you see if falling into ruin." I could say the same thing about Kathy: like St. Francis, she heard a call to rebuild a town that was falling into ruin. Also like St. Francis, she goes out and does it, not afraid but strong. She is a faithful, joyful person who is a joy to be and work with. My experience with Kathy has taught me what a being a lesser brother means: to be like Francis and rebuild...working together to rebuild community wherever we are.
When we first arrived in Shamokin/Coal Township, we stopped at the Heritage Restaurant where we met Kathy, a friend of Fr. Lasky. Kathy was sharing with us how Shamokin used to be, how it has been dying out, and how she is rebuilding Shamokin and making it a better place that people who pass by may stop and enjoy the town that has so much history. She felt a call from God to start rebuilding the town, one building at a time (something we were able to help her with later in our stay).
As we sat and listened to her story, it reminded me of the similarity to St. Francis. I remembered how Francis started in the rundown church of San Damiano, and he heard Jesus from the crucifix tell him, "Francis, go and rebuild my church that you see if falling into ruin." I could say the same thing about Kathy: like St. Francis, she heard a call to rebuild a town that was falling into ruin. Also like St. Francis, she goes out and does it, not afraid but strong. She is a faithful, joyful person who is a joy to be and work with. My experience with Kathy has taught me what a being a lesser brother means: to be like Francis and rebuild...working together to rebuild community wherever we are.
Comments
Post a Comment