‘God’s All-Inclusive Extravagant Love’

‘God’s All-Inclusive Extravagant Love’

 

God’s All-Inclusive, Extravagant Love

St. Francis was a Gospel guy. Using the Gospel of Jesus
as his literal guidebook, Francis radically and relentlessly
imitated God’s all inclusive, extravagant love. To live the
Gospel in this way was very new and different.
Even after the passing of eight centuries, this love that
Francis shared resonates today. Francis speaks to so
many of us who may be Catholics, Christians, Non-
Christians, Ecologists, Social Activists, liberals,
conservatives, agnostics, mystics, everyone. We feel
drawn Francis’ experience of God’s all-inclusive,
extravagant love.

Love for the Poor: Francis gave up his wealth to live among and serve the poor,
showing that God’s love is especially present in caring for those in need.
Kinship with all of Creation: In his “Canticle of the Creatures” Francis reflects his
deep love for all creation. He saw all of creation—people, animals, nature—as
interdependent, calling them “brothers” and “sisters.” Caring for the creation becomes
an act of love.

Peace and Reconciliation: Francis sought peace, even with enemies. During the
Crusades, he visited a Muslim leader, Sultan al-Kamil, seeking understanding instead of
conflict and showing that God’s love goes beyond divisions. His behavior and actions
showed his belief that God’s love radically transcends religious, cultural, and political
boundaries.

Inclusivity: Francis welcomed all people, regardless of social status. He had an all-
encompassing love that was both humble and inclusive, serving lepers, beggars, and
anyone in need, seeing Christ in each individual.

Francis of Assisi exemplified God’s extravagant, all-inclusive love by breaking down
barriers between the rich and the poor, humans and creation, and even between
conflicting religions and cultures. His life continues to inspire us, all these centuries
later, to see God’s love as boundlessly inclusive – and bring that into the actions we
take in our own lives.

Image from the website of the Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities

To view a PDF ‘God’s All-Inclusive Extravagant Love’ – click here
‘Para español, haga clic aquí