Admonition XIX: A humble servant of God
In this Admonition Francis wrote a few words that, in my opinion, summarize his feelings as he stood before the leper, the experience that changed his life. The Admonition deals with a servant who does not consider himself any better when he is praised than when he is considered worthless and simple. Such a servant is blessed. The reason on which Francis bases this advice is that 'what a person is before God, that he is and no more'. It is not difficult to read this as a summary of Francis's experience of meeting God in a leper. As Francis recalled this experience he realized that what the people of Assisi thought of him was not the truth. The truth lay in what God thought about him. That Francis felt a sense of unworthiness before God was to be expected. Francis was a human person with the weaknesses of human nature. But, on the other hand, his experience was positive and affirming because God had come to him and this meant so much: God loved him, God was interested in him, God had plans for him and challenged him to see his life and the whole world with new eyes. Francis understood the call God was making to him for he says that soon afterwards he left the world. No wonder Francis could say we are what we are in the eyes of God and no more. What more could there be than to know we are loved in spite of being weak and sinful. The bitterness of leaving his home in Assisi was turned into sweetness of body and soul as he began a more intense life with God.
