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The Missionary Challenges of Being Catholic and Franciscan in Our Times
by Fr. George Corrigan, OFM
Every generation experiences a moment of time that shapes and forms memory. Within our parish there are those among us who can ask, “Where were you when you heard that Pearl Harbor had been bombed?” “Where were you when President Kennedy was shot?” “Where were you when the Challenger space shuttle was lost.” And now “Where were you on 9-11?”
I was in Cochabamba, Bolivia on that fateful Tuesday morning. A Bolivian friar was frantically, in a Spanish far too rapid for my comprehension, trying to tell me what had occurred in my homeland – fortunately I was with a friar from my own province who was fluent in Spanish. It was suddenly all too clear. The next days were spent checking in with CNN Español – pictures are worth a thousand words.
Perhaps the poignant moment came on Saturday morning the 15th. CNN Español was showing pictures of a funeral when we suddenly realized that is was being held in our own St. Francis of Assisi Church in NYC. We could see our Provincial Minister presiding and immediately knew it was for one of our own friars. That is when we learned via captions that Fr. Mychal Judge, OFM, a NYC fire chaplain, had died during the collapse of one of the twin towers. Like you, my memories of those days are vivid. Now it is ten years later and the terrorist attack of that Tuesday morning has rippled out across the globe. As Scripture puts it: the sins of the father ripple out unto the fourth generation of their children. The world seems more precarious than in days gone by and peace seems more elusive than ever.
Almost 800 years ago, the western and near eastern world was locked in a series of Crusades that began in 1086. The crusades continued, on and off, for more than 100 years. Each side becoming more intransigent in its views and righteousness. The world seems more precarious than in days gone by and peace seems more elusive than ever.
In 1219, as the Fifth Crusade was being fought, St. Francis of Assisi traveled to Egypt to the scene of a fierce encounter between the combined forces of the West against the forces of Malik al-Kamil, the Sultan of Egypt and the de facto leader of the Muslim world – the leader of the other camp. In Francis’ time the “camps" were Christian and non-believers. Francis and his camp held Jesus as Lord and Savior of this life and the next. He held fidelity to the Scriptures and the Catholic tradition. He held that salvation was found in Christ alone and that the missionary charge was to extend that salvation to the ends of the earth. In these things he is like the missionaries who went before and those who came afterwards.
Perhaps what makes Francis’ vision of mission unique is how he saw the reign of God being inaugurated and its focus on the apiru people. The word “Hebrew" is derived from the same Semitic root as apiru, whose basic meaning is to “cross” or “cross over.”. The word apiru is also used to describe many persons associated with the Hebrews in the wilderness where the idea of being "inside the camp" is cast in high relief against the hostile wilderness outside. The early roots of Israel were as a people being called by God to be his people and to enter his “camp,” a covenantal life symbolized by the promised land and a kingdom of peace.
And so, in early September 1219, Francis crossed over the enemy lines, into their camp, to gain an audience with Malik al-Kamil, the Sultan of Egypt. Ever faithful, Francis shared the Good News, but also offered Peace, Shalom, Salaam. By all accounts, it was a mutually respectful encounter in the midst of a moment when Western Christendom believed it would overcome the Muslims by war or be overcome by them. When Francis returned home, he wrote the missionary statue for the Friars:
As for the brothers who go, they can live spiritually among the Saracens and nonbelievers in two ways. One way is not to engage in arguments or disputes but to be subject to every human creature for God’s sake and to acknowledge that they are Christians. The other way is to announce the Word of God, when they see it pleases the Lord, in order that [nonbelievers] may believe in almighty God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, the Creator of all, the Son, the Redeemer and Savior, and be baptized and become Christian.
Here in the year 2011, even on a day we remember our loss and loved ones, on a day we continue to pray for our loved ones and fellow citizens in harm’s way in lands far and away, we are still called to be missionary. We are called to be people who “cross over,” who share our Faith, and as we do so to remember Jesus’ command: “Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household.’” (Luke 10:5) If we fail to do that, we let ourselves be shaped to the world’s vision rather than shape the world to the vision of Christ. |
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