Under whose authority will I live?

Morning: Psalm 102; 2 Kings 19:1-20; I Corinthians 9:16-27

Evening: Psalm 107:1-32; Matthew 8:1-17

In 1210, St. Francis, whose day we observe today, asked Pope Innocent III to endorse the Order of Friars Minor.  After dreaming of Francis holding up the cathedral of Rome, Innocent agreed.  Some folks say we should live our lives ‘with authority’, as ‘authors of our own destiny’.  But Francis, like the centurion who trusted that Jesus could heal his servant, recognized an authority greater than his own.  His Church authority was Pope Innocent.  Francis’ ultimate allegiance, though, was to Jesus.  The stories of both the centurion and Francis encourage me to decide under whose authority I will live.