Beset

on many sides:

brothers struggling to live out

his clear passionate vision,

not content to be guided

by the Spirit,

wanting specific direction;

Church authorities

mindful of the future

and maintaining the good work

begun

along with a liberal dose of

control.

Francis has a rule

that is accepted.

He returns to his quest

to touch hearts

with the love of Jesus,

of God,

despite being weighed down

by his own physical frailty

such as TB and trachoma.

He returns to Greccio

to re-enact the Christmas story

in a way

that touched all present

and reverberates

down through eight centuries

to today.

On fire

with God’s love

of creation

of humanity,

Francis powerfully shared

that message:

God loves all creation

including

each one

of us.