DAYA MATAJI: Gurudeva Paramahansa Yogananda often extolled St. Francis of Assisi as one of the great lovers of Christ, an exemplar of what a follower of Christ should be. In the chapel at SRF International Headquarters Guruji had a vision of St. Francis, and from that vision came the poem we all love so much, “God! God! God!”
I would like to read to you today extracts from The Little Flowers of Saint Francis. This story expresses the ideal to be followed by everyone on the spiritual path, the ideal made manifest in the highest way in the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. . .
Spirituality lies not in the power to heal others, to perform miracles, or to astound the world with our wisdom, but in the ability to endure with right attitude whatever crosses we have to face in our daily lives, and thus to rise above them.
This spirit bestows all-conquering strength and supreme happiness.
St. Francis Statue, SRF Lake Shrine
PERFECT JOY
One winter’s day, as St. Francis was going from Perugia with Brother Leo to St. Mary of the Angels, suffering sorely from the bitter cold, he called Brother Leo, who was walking before him, and spoke thus, “Brother Leo, even if the Friars Minor (The name for members of the order of monks founded by St. Francis) in every land give good examples of holiness and edification, nevertheless write and note down diligently that perfect joy is not to be found therein.”
And St. Francis went his way a little farther, and called him a second time, saying, “O Brother Leo, even if the Friars Minor gave sight to the blind, made the crooked straight, cast out devils, made the deaf to hear, the lame to walk, and restored speech to the dumb, and what is a yet greater thing, raised to life those who have lain four days in the grave, note that perfect joy is not found there.”
And he journeyed on a little while, and cried aloud, “O Brother Leo, if the Friars Minor knew all tongues and all the sciences and all the scriptures, so that he could foretell and reveal not only future things, but even the secrets of the conscience and of the soul; note that perfect joy is not there.”
Yet a little farther went St. Francis, and cried again aloud, “O Brother Leo, little lamb of God, even though the Friars Minor spake with the tongue of angels and knew the courses of the stars and the virtues of herbs, and were the hidden treasures of the earth revealed to him, and he knew the qualities of birds, and of fishes, and of all animals, and of man, and of trees, and stones, and roots, and waters; note that not there is perfect joy.”
And when this fashion of talk had endured two good miles, Brother Leo asked him in great wonder: “Father, I pray thee in God’s name tell me where is perfect joy to be found?”
Plaque on St. Francis Tree, SRF Encinitas Gardens
And St. Francis answered him thus, “When we are come to St. Mary of the Angels, wet through with rain, frozen with cold, and foul with mire and tormented with hunger; and when we knock at the door, the doorkeeper comes in a rage and says, ‘Who are you?’ and we say, ‘We are two of your brothers,’ and he answers, ‘You tell not true; you are rather two knaves that go about deceiving the world and stealing the alms of the poor. Begone!’ and he opens not to us, and makes us stay outside hungry and cold all night in the rain and snow; then if we endure patiently such cruelty, such abuse, and such insolent dismissal without complaint or murmuring, and believe humbly and charitably that that doorkeeper truly knows us, and that it is God who makes him to rail against us; O Brother Leo, there is perfect joy.
“And if, compelled by hunger and by cold, we knock once more and pray with many tears that he open to us for the love of God and let us but come inside, and he more insolently than ever shouts, ‘These are impudent rogues, I will pay them out as they deserve,’ and comes forth with a big knotted stick and seizes us by our cowls and flings us on the ground and rolls us in the snow, bruising every bone in our bodies with that heavy stick–if we endure all these things patiently and joyously for love of Christ, write, O Brother Leo, that in this perfect joy is found.
“And now, Brother Leo, hear the conclusion. Above all the graces and the gifts that Christ gives to those who love him is that of overcoming self, and willingly to bear other pain and buffetings and revilings and discomfort for love of God.“
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DAYA MATAJ: Spirituality lies not in the power to heal others, to perform miracles, or to astound the world with our wisdom, but in the ability to endure with right attitude whatever crosses we have to face in our daily lives, and thus to rise above them.
This spirit bestows all-conquering strength and supreme happiness.
St. Francis Tree, SRF Encinitas Gardens
“Lord, I want You, only You.”
To each of us come times of great tribulation that we feel are impossible to endure. We ask, “Why has this happened to me? It seems so unfair and unjust.” Whenever I am tempted to reason in that way, I remember this story from the life of St. Francis.
Every experience whether joyful or painful — comes for one reason: that through it we might draw closer to the Divine Beloved. Perfect joy lies in selflessly striving for the best outcome, and then humbly accepting whatever God gives.
When human relationships bring disappointment, most people become bitter. Never allow that to happen to you. Turn to God, like a child who runs to his mother for solace. In the companionship of true friends, we enjoy the love of the one Divine Friend. And from those who misunderstand and misjudge us, we have equal opportunity to experience the perfect joy of turning to God for strength and comfort. In that relationship with God, you cannot feel bitterness toward those who mistreat you. You regard your feelings of hurt or loneliness or inward emptiness as a reminder to deepen your relationship with that One who will never fail you.
When we make the sincere inner resolve, “Lord, I want You, only You,” in that instant the Divine is fully conscious of our affirmation. From then on, our part is to strive to accept all circumstances as coming to us with the permission of God. We learn to see our ordeals as God’s love exhorting us to be nonattached to everything but Him. By facing and overcoming painful experiences, we break the chains that imprison the soul in this little cell of pain-racked flesh and petty emotions.
from Finding the Joy Within You, by Sri Daya Mata
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Yogananda Site 