Focus on the Admonitions (#11 and 12)

Focus on the Admonitions  (#11 and 12) 

https://www.franciscantradition.org/francis-of-assisi-early-documents/the-saint/writings-of-francis/the-undated-writings/the-admonitions/149-fa-ed-1-page-133

[XI: Let No One Be Corrupted by the Evil of Another]

¹Nothing should displease a servant of God except sin. ²And no matter how another person may sin, if a servant of God becomes disturbed and angry because of this and not because of charity, he is storing up guilt for himself. ^{Rom 2:5 3}That servant of God who does not become angry or disturbed at anyone lives correctly without anything of his own.^a 4Blessed is the one for whom nothing remains except for him to return to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s. ^{Mt 22:21}

[XII: Knowing the Spirit of the Lord]

¹Aservant of God can be known to have the Spirit of the Lord in this way: ²if, when the Lord performs some good through him, his flesh does not therefore exalt itself, because it is always opposed to every good. ³Instead he regards himself the more worthless and esteems himself less than all others.

Questions to discuss or to answer in your journal

+ Come, Holy Spirit! Open my mind and heart as I contemplate Admonition XI.

• When have I focused on another person’s sin and judged them because of it?
• What do I find most difficult about not becoming “angry or disturbed at anyone?”
• Why do you think Francis ends this admonition with the sentence from Matthew about “returning to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s?”

+ Admonition XII—Those of us who are, or aspire to be, servant leaders should pay close attention to this one!

• Why do you think St. Francis asks his followers to esteem themselves less when the Lord accomplishes something through them?
• Do you think he wants us to have low self-esteem? Why or why not?
• Do you think he is asking us to stop trying to do great things?

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