When the time of the annual
meeting was drawing near, Francis said to his fellow, “It seems to me that I am
not a Friar Minor, unless I am in the state which I will tell you. Look how the
friars invite me with honor to the Chapter and moved by their devotion I go to
the annual meeting with them. But once
gathered together, they ask me to announce to them the Word of God and to
preach among them. And rising up, I
preach to them as the Holy Spirit had taught me. If it should be, after I have finished my
sermon, they all cry out against me, ‘We will not have you to rule over us for
you are not eloquent, as is right, and you are too simple and idiotic and we
wouldn’t want such a simple and despised a superior over us. Therefore, do not call yourself our leader!’ In this way they cast me out with blame and
reproach. It would seem to me then that
I was not a Friar Minor, if I did not rejoice to the same extent when they
reproached me and cast me out with shame, unwilling that I should be their
leader, as when they venerate and honor me—holding their benefit and usefulness
to be equal in either case. For if I am
glad when they exalt and honor me on account of their devotion, where there may
still be a danger to my soul—then much more should I rejoice and be glad of my
personal benefit and the salvation of my soul when they blame me, because the
gain to my soul is certain.”
-Mirror of Perfection, Section IV, Chapter 64
This may seem another example of Francis' extremism. But Francis is simply putting together two principles of Jesus.
Jesus said that we are not to take honor in outward show. He commanded this in Matthew 6, where our prayers are to be secret and our fasting private only to God. Jesus also said in Matthew 23 that leaders who make a display in order to receive honor should only have shame. Any leader who is recognized for great works or how wonderful they are should be made uncomfortable by adulation.
Jesus also said that his true disciple would have persecution and rejection. Paul went so far as to say, "Anyone who lives a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." Thus, when persecution comes, we ought to rejoice that we are true disciples of Jesus, and not reject it at all. Even so, in Acts 5, when the apostles were scourged, they rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer for Jesus' name.
How often do we have that attitude when being rejected for doing right? Perhaps we should meditate like Francis more often, to be ready to accept persecution correctly when it comes.
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