OFS Oxford

Monthly virtual (Zoom) meeting held jointly with OFS Fraternity Aarhus, Denmark

Time: 6:30 pm to 8.30 pm BST

No. of Attendees: 9

We looked again at Reflection 46 – ‘Witness to the Gospel’ (Apostolate of Good Example) from ‘Live Like Francis’ (Leonard Foley O.F.M., Jovian Weigel O.F.M.). Some extracts:

Living the Gospel can be described in many ways. Whether we are speaking of virtue or sin, it is true that attitude is all-important. We are what we decide to be, by an ongoing and basic decision. But it is also true that our deepest attitudes must express themselves, and they do. One does not keep up a good example long unless it is the fruit of a genuine inner commitment.

We sometimes think that we have little influence on others. They seem to pay little or no attention to us. Yet, let us look at our own lives. After the grace of God, all the goodness we have is the result of good example. We have been powerfully influenced by our mothers and fathers, teachers and friends, and the ever-widening circle of good people whom we meet in life. We are influenced by the example of those who have gone before us. We remember particular instances: being encouraged to pray by seeing a friend making the Way of the Cross, marvelling at the silent endurance of injury by a friend, seeing silent and Christlike suffering, seeing a courageous defence of someone being persecuted.

We may be moved for the moment by some unusual and spectacular action of another. But the influences that affect us most deeply are those which continue day after day, year after year. Constant good example formed our characters. The sight of Dad going to Communion every Sunday – the memory of Mom taking dinner to a sick neighbour will inspire us to do the same.

Someone once said: “What you are thunders so loud, I can’t hear what you say!” We can only influence others by what we are. — We must examine our external conduct, but this will bring us face-to-face with our interior spirit. If we take care of the inner peace that comes from living close to Christ, we will have no trouble giving good example. When others see us, they will see Christ.

A story in one of the earliest biographies of Francis describes the power of his example and the great spirit that attracted everyone to him. At one of the meetings of the friars, it was said that “if one of the brothers was undergoing an inner struggle or fighting against a temptation, it sufficed for him to see St. Francis, to hear him speak with loving zeal, to witness the sacrifices he made – and all temptations and all sadness miraculously vanished, for he spoke to them with great compassion, not as a judge, but as a loving father to his sons, or a good physician to his patients” (Legend of the Three Companions).

We must fight the sinfulness of the world, but not by withdrawing from the conflict. We join, we become involved in, the activities of the world that we may put the spirit of Christ into them. In theatres and newspaper offices, in washrooms and supermarkets, in colleges and hospitals and restaurants, we must be Christ to everyone. We must be, in these circumstances, what Christ would be in them.

We discussed evangelising by simple example (e.g. in recycling), the problems and opportunities within mixed marriages, St. Francis’ dilemma between the contemplative life and active evangelisation and advice he received from friends for the latter, the Holy Spirit at work in evangelisation, consideration of things done well and how to improve in daily examination of conscience, acceptance of declining out-reach abilities with advancing years.

The meeting concluded with a closing prayer: “Please, Lord, keep me from being a hypocrite. I want to live my belief in you with honesty. Show me the secret corners of my life that I try to hide from others and from you. Amen.”