Emphasis Preaching Journal

One day when Francis of Assisi was 27 years old he was assisting a pastor at a little church in the woods that he had repaired. Prior to the service he had swept the floor and dusted everything in sight. He had been so meticulous because he believed God had called him to rebuild old and abandoned churches. That was the dream he had one night, and he believed the dream was from God. As the service began Francis heard the Gospel read. The passage told of Jesus sending out his disciples two by two into the towns and villages to spread the good news, teach, heal, and love. Those words struck this lay server like a thunderbolt. How stupid he had been! God's vision did not mean that he was literally to clean up and restore physically church buildings, useful as that task might be. God was calling him to rebuild the church spiritually. And he had just heard in the reading of the Gospel "how" this was to be done. Lest he be mistaken, after the service Francis called the pastor aside and asked him to interpret the biblical passage in more depth. By the time the dialogue ended Francis was convinced that God had disclosed something personal for him. He left the pastor with joy in his heart. He threw away his sandals and his wallet. He found a simple brown habit, shaped like a cross with a hood, and wrapped a rope around his waist. Now, he was ready to gather a few committed people around him and go out two by two to rebuild Christ's church. -- Hasler