New Blog Post Make Me an Instrument

It took Mark several weeks to compose this reflection using eye gaze technology. It was written at the request of his friend Ed who wanted to share Mark's thoughts with the Georgia teens and young adults that Ed took on a mission trip to West Virginia in June 2019.

Make Me an Instrument

Mark Herwaldt

June 19, 2019

In 2005, I was blessed to take some young people and adults from St Pius Church to World Youth Day in Germany.  We were going to Europe and had some extra days. Where would you go? Where do you think I took them? Drum Roll Please!! Rome and Assisi, Rome is an obvious choice with historic churches and Roman ruins. Why Assisi? This little medieval village built into the side of a mountain? It is not very large. In fact, if you stood at the base of the mountain you can take in the whole town. This little town produced two saints Francis and Clare who changed the church forever. How did two people change the church? Francis and Clare had a simple faith and trust in God which impacted every aspect of their lives. They became an instrument of God's grace to others. Their faith was infectious so they attracted others. My group didn't want to leave Assisi because the town is so peaceful and well the gelato was delicious. 

Francis' father was a wealthy cloth merchant. Being from a wealthy family Francis spent much of his life pursuing things that he enjoyed especially partying. Things took a turn when Francis was sent off to war. Francis lived during the end of the twelfth and an early part of the thirteenth centuries. The time period of the knights with all the steel armor and being a knight was a prestigious thing to do for the wealthy. He had a life changing experience fighting in wars especially when he saw people killed on the battlefield and he was taken prisoner. The last time he went off to battle he had second thoughts about killing others. He came home without his armor because he had given it to his squire. His father was not pleased. God used the war to change the direction of his life. Francis felt empty on the inside and he knew that there has to be something more to life than being wealthy and a famous war hero. Francis started by renouncing any claims that he had on his family's wealth. He became a beggar.

I remember in college where I had everything that the world thought I should have: Good grades, friends, money, a job. I still felt empty inside. I have run into a lot of teens and adults with the same problem. What about you? Do you feel empty?  Francis was going to church but there was something missing. A Franciscan Friar from the Bronx was sharing his story about being on a mission trip when he was younger. He was in the mountains of West Virginia painting this lady's house. She really needed a new house but she wanted her house painted so he painted. At one point she asked him if he knew Jesus. He said "I attend a Catholic high school and go to Mass every Sunday." She said "Yes, but do you know Jesus?  "He had to think about it. He knew who Jesus was and what he taught, but he didn't have a personal intimate relationship with God. This woman with barely a penny in her bank account had something worth more than the richest people of the world.

Yes, there was something missing from Francis' life. He just didn't know what it was. He had turned his back on his wealth which was a good first step. Soon he discovered that it was not a thing but a who. He kind of walked around the area wearing a simple brown tunic with a rope around his waist. He was barefoot. He experienced God in his creation: birds, flowers, animals.  One day, he stumbled upon a leper on the out skirts of town. Normal people avoided them. Francis hugged him. He  experienced God in the poor and sick. Have you seen the face of Jesus in the poor? Francis found a broken down little church near the base of the mountain. He was praying in front of the crucifix and he heard God speak to him, God said "Rebuild my church." I have been on many mission trips so I would have gotten a crew of people together. Francis had no crew, just himself and started to rebuild the church stone by stone. He didn't have any money so he had to beg for food and supplies. Over time, his radical life of being an Instrument for God's grace was infectious.  He had nothing but was peaceful and joyful. The people of Assisi thought that he was crazy. His friends would come out to see what he was doing. At first, they made fun of him, but eventually he attracted twelve young men from Assisi and the surrounding area. They became known as Franciscans. Another big moment came when his friend Clare gave up everything to join Francis. They had to create a women's community which today is known as the Poor Clares. 

They lived a simple life in community with prayer by asking God to make them an instrument of his peace. They preached love, pardoning of others, faith and hope in God. They were a light in the darkness of people's lives. They exuded joy even in their poverty. They put other's needs first. They encouraged people to console others in loss and to understand others by listening to their problems. By knowing Jesus they knew, it is in giving that we receive. Francis and his brothers didn't just preach it. They lived it. They changed the church by going to the whole world and by being authentic disciples of the Divine Master. You and I are invited to do the same things. First, you need to know Jesus. He has specified jobs that only you can do. If you invite Jesus into the center of your life, buckle up! It will be the ride of a life time!! He will make you an instrument that will change the world.   
  
In thinking back about taking the back roads to get to Assisi, it reminded of a similar place in America that my youth group went on a mission trip. Here are some of the lyrics of one my favorite songs:

Almost heaven, West Virginia
Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River
Life is old there, older than the trees
Younger than the mountains, blowing like a breeze

Country roads, take me home
To the place I belong
West Virginia, mountain mama
Take me home, country roads

 Francis found Jesus in the back roads of Italy. You can find him in the faces of of the poor in West Virginia or in your hallways of your school or at work or in your family. Many of faces that you are looking for are spiritually hollow. They don't know Jesus.