Brother Juniper was a friend of St. Francis.
He was considered 'stupid' and 'foolish' by people who didn't know him well, but a 'genius' and 'wise' by those who did.
We need people who help us see genius in simplicity and wisdom in foolishness.
We need Brother Junipers to turn the world upside down for for us so we can see it right side up, feel it more deeply, and touch it more efficaciously from the bottom side of history among the smallest and most forgotten people in the world.
In a world where "videri quam esse," where "to seem is more important than to be," we need Brother Junipers to teach us that "esse quam videri,” “to be is more important than to appear.”
We need Brother Junipers.
In their wonderful picture book, "Brother Juniper," Diane Gotlieb and Meilo So write and illustrate a story about our hero.
St. Francis and seven other brothers leave Brother Juniper in charge of the chapel while they go out to preach.
While they are gone, he gives away everything inside of the chapel to the poor people in the community.
He even gives away the walls, the windows, and the doors!
He finally gives away his broom and his robe to a shivering cleaning woman who has no broom and who cannot sweep.
The brothers return and find Brother Juniper standing naked in an empty hole where the chapel had been.
They shout at him, "You've ruined our church!"
On Sunday, Brother Juniper stands on a rock and yells, "Ding, Ding, Ding," because it's his job to ring the bell and he gave the bell to a teacher who wanted to start a school.
All of the brothers stand with long faces in the hole when...all of the townspeople come and gather around Brother Juniper.
A child says, "We just came to say thank you.”
At that moment, St. Francis arrives and puts his arm around Brother Juniper's shoulder.
"Look at the fine church that Brother Juniper built. I wish I had a forest of these Junipers!”
Imagine what the world would be if there were Junipers everywhere.
Be a Juniper wherever you are.
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