The Memorial of Saint Francis de Sales
To me, the very least of all saints, was this grace given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all men see what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God, who created all things through Jesus Christ, to the intent that now through the assembly the manifold wisdom of God might be made known to the principalities and the powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him we have boldness and access in confidence through our faith in him.
Blessed is the man who doesn't walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand on the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers;
Even as the Father has loved me, I also have loved you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, even as I have kept my Father's commandments and remain in his love. I have spoken these things to you, that my joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be made full.
"This is my commandment, that you love one another, even as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant doesn't know what his lord does. But I have called you friends, for everything that I heard from my Father, I have made known to you. You didn't choose me, but I chose you and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain; that whatever you will ask of the Father in my name, he may give it to you.
"I command these things to you, that you may love one another.
Saint Francis de Sales was a seventeenth-century bishop known for his gentle approach to evangelization and his profound spiritual writings. He believed that holiness was possible for everyone, not just priests and religious, making sanctity accessible to ordinary people in their daily lives.
What strikes me most about Paul's words to the Ephesians is his profound humility—calling himself "the very least of all saints" while simultaneously recognizing the incredible grace he's been given. There's something beautiful about holding both our smallness and our calling together. We don't have to choose between recognizing our limitations and embracing the mission God has placed before us.
This connects beautifully with Jesus calling his disciples friends rather than servants. Think about that shift for a moment. A servant follows orders without understanding the bigger picture, but a friend is brought into confidence, trusted with the whole story. Jesus is telling us that we're not just following commands blindly—we're invited into the very heart of God's plan.
Saint Francis de Sales understood this intimately. He knew that authentic evangelization flows not from superiority or force, but from friendship and genuine love. When we truly grasp that we are God's friends, chosen and appointed to bear fruit, it changes how we approach every conversation, every relationship, every ordinary Wednesday afternoon.
The fruit Jesus speaks of isn't just about grand gestures or dramatic conversions. It's about the daily choice to love as we have been loved—in our families, workplaces, and communities. It's about making God's wisdom known through the simple witness of a life lived in friendship with Christ.
How might recognizing yourself as God's friend, rather than just a servant, change your approach to challenges today? What would it look like to bear fruit in the most ordinary moments of your day?