I just came home from the birthday party of a dear friend named Janet Berkowitz. She is family of choice and we realized that we met 43 years ago. She told us that part of the afternoon would be spent watching one of her favorite films called Brother Sun, Sister Moon which was a Hollywoodized biopic about the life of St. Francis of Assisi. Lest you think the 1972 movie would be boring and dryly religious, know that it was produced by Franco Zeffirelli who also did the epic Romeo and Juliet and the soundtrack was created by 60s-70s music icon Donovan. There is even a scene of from the rear nudity. What made it particularly poignant for me was the first time I saw it was the day Janet and I met. She gathered a group of friends in 1982 to screen the movie, so this was a film reunion of sorts. I watched it this time from a wholey different and perhaps even holy perspective.
For those who aren’t familiar, it tells the tale of Francesco DiBernardone, newly returned from the Crusades to his home in Italy. He has been ill and teetering on the edge of death. He is healed in the care of his mother and others in the community. One day, he rises from his bed as he has seen a small bird perched on the balcony outside his room. He engages with the bird, holding it in his hand and the winged one flies on to the roof, and Francesco follows it, nearly falling. He steadies himself and returns back, a changed man. His wealthy (some through ill gotten gains) father is of the religious elite, hypocritical at that, as he abuses his employees and beats his son for, following his revelation, wanting to unburden himself of worldly possessions, including those in his father’s house. He gives much away to the poor which leads to his father assaulting him and to him leaving his parents’ home and stripping off his clothes, he proclaims that all he needs, God will provide. He goes to an abandoned church and with the assistance of those he has helped and some of his friends who have also returned from the war, one feeling tremendous guilt for murdering Muslims, they rebuild and soon it becomes a place of from the heart worship for the poor villagers who no longer attend Mass in the ostentatious church.
Francis meets Clare as she is feeding lepers and she becomes one of his brethren; the Sister Moon to his Brother Sun. Her kindness melts his heart and those around her. At one point, he travels to Rome to meet Pope Innocent III, played by Alec Guinness, 10 years before another signature role as Obi-Wan Kenobi, since he has heard of this unusual young man who has turned tradition on its head. One of my favorite lines uttered by the pontiff, “In our obsession of original sin, we too often forget original innocence.”
As I was watching, I was seeing parallels with some current cults, religious and political that distort the teachings of Jesus for their own purposes, for money, glory and control. Would it not be better to ascribe to the teachings of this simple man whose words of wisdom touch the hearts of many, whether or not they were raised Catholic? My religion of origin is Judaism and yet the Prayer of St. Francis has long been dear to me.
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
And there are others that touch my heart.
“All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle.”
“Start by doing what is necessary, then do what is possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible.”
Although I have long been of service through my professions as a social worker, therapist, minister, writer and teacher, I am keenly aware that we need servant leaders more than ever now. We need people who are willing to examine their core beliefs about spirituality and service, about compassion and caring for others, about making a difference in the world. We need people are willing to speak truth to power, such as Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde. Since the election, in the midst of feelings of helplessness and despair, I ask for my marching orders each morning, inquiring of my Source, how I can help.
“The deeds you do may be the only sermon some persons will hear today.”-St. Francis of Assisi
—
This Post is republished on Medium.
—
Photo credit: iStock
