Metanoia and Option

for the Poor

{ By Vince Lozano
 Portray Franciss metanoia or extreme
spiritual conversion, by relating it to option
for the poor.
Identify and discuss metanoia and option

for the poor.

Display how Francis implemented it in

his life and actions.

Connect it to Scripture from scholarly

sources.

Agenda
 A spiritual conversion
A complete change of oneself
Interpreted as extreme
Draw nigh to God, and he will draw
nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye
sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double
minded. Humble yourselves in the sight
of the Lord, and he shall lift you up
(John 4.8 4.10).

Metanoia
 Essentially being aware of communities in
need and taking action to help them.
This option has two dimensions: i) to look
upon society and culture from prospective
of the poor (a cognitive task), and ii) to give
public witness of solidarity with the struggle
of the poor for social justice (an active task).
The option is called preferential because it
is the first step towards the creation of a just
and humane society (Baum, 52).

Option for the Poor

 Related to poverty
With poverty, comes vulnerability
Lack of help or healthcare
Related to servant hood or service of
others

Option for the Poor Cont.

 Wealthy family
Made friends with Nobles
Dressed in clothes of higher fashion
Materialistic attitude
Wanted power and wealth
Sense of entitlement
Wanted to be a Knight
Went to war and was captured

FRANCISS
BACKGROUND
 Poverty became one of Franciss
conducting virtues.
Stripped himself of his clothing and
handed them to his father.
Francis traded his riches for servants
clothing and proclaimed God as his
heavenly father.
Did not want to live the lifestyle his father
set out for him.

Franciss metanoia
 The mere sight of them was repulsive to Francis
as a young man. At one point, however, he came
across a leper, came down from his horse, and
embraced him. He then actually spent some time
living with the lepers (Anglin, 77).
When I was in sin it seemed too bitter for me to
see lepers. And the lord himself led me among
them and I showed mercy to them. And when I
left them, what had seemed bitter to me was
tuned into sweetness of soul and body (Anglin,
77).

Francis and the Lepers

 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the
kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5.3).
Though he was very rich, yet for our sakes he
became poor, so that by his poverty he could make us
rich (2 Corinthians 8.9).
When Jesus came down from the mountainside,
large crowds followed him. And a man with leprosy
came and knelt before him and said Lord, if you are
willing, you can make me clean. Jesus reached out
his hand and touched the man. I am willing, he
said. Be clean! Immediately he was cleansed of his
leprosy (Matthew 8.1-8.3).

Scripture
 Francis was able to become such an iconic leader
because of his willingness to change. His early life
experiences led him down a path that he realized he
did not want to take any longer. Franciss metanoia,
was necessary in order for him to develop the
proper values and important characteristics that
allowed him to live through option for the poor.
Francis and Jesus may have done different things,
but Francis was dedicated in mirroring Jesuss
actions to the best of his ability. The different ways
just explained demonstrate how Francis went about
his metanoia and option for the poor.

Conclusion