| Discerning God’s Will When One’s Parents Object |
This week we read a story about the life of St. Francis de Sales based on Butler’s Lives of the Saints.We encounter St. Francis as a young priest, caught in the tension between the wishes of his father and his call to serve God on a mission.To prepare for our chat on Sunday, please read the article, which is reproduced below, and review the questions at the end.Click for Living Jesus Chatroom  Francis de Sales age 12 (Public Domain)When St. Francis de Sales, as a young priest, volunteered before the bishop to go to the Chablais to win back Catholics to the Church, his father strenuously objected.Francis’ father was a very strong-willed man, having even at one time laid out a plan for his eldest son to marry, even to the point of picking out his future spouse. But on this day the father complained. He said that he had been willing to give his son to the Church as a confessor (priest), but not as a martyr. He exclaimed to the bishop, “My lord, I allowed my eldest son, the hope of my house, of my old age, of my life, to devote himself to the service of the Church to be a confessor, but I cannot give him up to be a martyr!”At that point Francis spoke up before the bishop, defending his desire to go on the dangerous mission. Francis implored the bishop to be firm, saying, “Would you make me unworthy of the Kingdom of God? Having put my hand to the plough, would you have me look back?” The bishop, who had been sympathetic to the father, who was his old friend, was swayed by the son’s plea and sent him on the mission.It is surprising to see what we imagine as the mild and gentle Francis objecting so strenuously to his father’s wishes. And we see a sharp division between a son and his father. And yet Francis chose what was right. And this would be particularly difficult for St. Francis as he had to begin his mission without his father’s blessing. We recall Christ’s words about dividing children from their parents:Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division; for henceforth in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three; they will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against her mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.(Luke 12:50-53)This historical account from Butler’s Lives of the Saints departs from what might be our stereotyped view of St. Francis as someone who seems to be even-tempered and agreeable in all circumstances. On the contrary, it shows how we should be firm in principle when it comes to following God’s will. The fruit in St. Francis’s life shows it is worth it every time. Reflections: What does Jesus mean when He says, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:26)?Based on this story, was St. Francis guilty of breaking the fourth commandment to “honor your mother and father”?What would the Church and the world be like had St. Francis obeyed his father’s wishes?Discuss Luke 12:50-53. Did Jesus come for the sake of division, or did he mean something more by this?St. Francis is known for being gentle, and this situation could seem contrary to his agreeable nature. Why is it important to have such virtues but still maintain a spirit of courage in face of what you know God is calling you to?Can you think of a similar situation in your own life when you were in disagreement with your father or mother, either as an adult or as a child? What were the principles involved? Did a willingness to do God’s will come into play in any way? Sign up for our Living Jesus Chat Room:Come to our Living Jesus Chat Room, 7:30 PM to 8:30 PM Eastern Time U.S. this Sunday . Seats are limited, so come on time. |