Not Being Ashamed to Beg
"All the brothers should strive to follow the humility and poverty of our Lord Jesus Christ, and they should remember that it is all they are to have in the whole world; for as the Apostle says, 'as long as we have food and clothing, we shall be content with that' (1Tm 6:8). And they should rejoice when they go among those considered of little account and despicable; the poor and the weak and the sick; lepers, too, and beggars by the wayside. And when it is necessary, let the brothers beg for alms. And they are not to be ashamed, rather, they should remember that our Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living, all-powerful God, set his face like flint (Is 50:7) and was not ashamed, though he was poor and homeless and lived on alms himself, as did the Blessed Virgin and his disciples." --St. Francis, Rule of 1221, Chapter IX
When we are followers of Christ we will not fit into the world as others might. Because outward appearances are what people see first, people will judge us by that. That is why our countenance should reflect the love of Christ first and foremost. Then there will be no cause for shame in anything we do for the Lord.
"All the brothers should strive to follow the humility and poverty of our Lord Jesus Christ, and they should remember that it is all they are to have in the whole world; for as the Apostle says, 'as long as we have food and clothing, we shall be content with that' (1Tm 6:8). And they should rejoice when they go among those considered of little account and despicable; the poor and the weak and the sick; lepers, too, and beggars by the wayside. And when it is necessary, let the brothers beg for alms. And they are not to be ashamed, rather, they should remember that our Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living, all-powerful God, set his face like flint (Is 50:7) and was not ashamed, though he was poor and homeless and lived on alms himself, as did the Blessed Virgin and his disciples." --St. Francis, Rule of 1221, Chapter IX
When we are followers of Christ we will not fit into the world as others might. Because outward appearances are what people see first, people will judge us by that. That is why our countenance should reflect the love of Christ first and foremost. Then there will be no cause for shame in anything we do for the Lord.
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