Lent 2025 Day 9

Francis of Assisi, Carer of Creation
Matthew 6:25-34 | Psalm 27

Francis of Assisi is one of the most beloved saints in Christian history, known for his radical simplicity, deep love for creation, and complete trust in God’s provision. Born into a wealthy family in 1181, he enjoyed a privileged life in his youth. However, after experiencing a spiritual awakening, he abandoned his family’s wealth and chose a life of poverty, dedicating himself to the Gospel and serving the poor. His devotion was not about deprivation for its own sake, but about discovering true freedom—a life unburdened by material concerns and fully surrendered to God’s care.

Jesus’ words in Matthew 6:25-34 could have been a guiding force for Francis: “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink… Seek first the kingdom of God, and all these things will be given to you.” Francis took this teaching literally, refusing to accumulate wealth or possessions and instead trusting that God would provide for his needs. He saw the natural world—birds, flowers, streams, and the sun—as his siblings in God’s creation, each one a reflection of divine care. His famous Canticle of the Sun sings of this deep connection between faith and the earth, reminding us that all creation is sustained by God’s love.

Yet, living this way was not always easy. Psalm 27 declares, “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?”—a verse that resonates with Francis’s journey. He faced opposition, ridicule, and hardship, even from his own family and the church. Yet he remained steadfast, knowing that true security is found not in possessions, power, or human approval, but in trusting God alone. His life was a testimony to the idea that when we let go of our fears and attachments, we open ourselves to a deeper joy and peace.
 
Lent is a time of letting go, of releasing what holds us back from deeper trust in God. Francis challenges us to ask: What are we clinging to? What fears keep us from fully surrendering to God’s love? Can we, like Francis, find joy not in what we own, but in who God is?

Reflection:

• What worries weigh on your heart? How might Jesus’ words in Matthew 6 invite you to release them? 
• Where do you find glimpses of God’s care in creation, as Francis did? 
• What is one step you can take this Lent to live more simply, trusting in God’s provision? 

Breath Prayer: Inhale: The Lord is my light… Exhale: …Whom shall I fear?

May this Lenten season lead us to a trust as deep and joyful as Francis of Assisi’s—a faith that frees us from fear and invites us to see the world as God’s beloved creation.
Amen.