That First Kiss

(This article originally appeared in the TAU-USA Winter 2026  Issue #118)

By Fr. Christopher Panagoplos, T.O.R. • National Spiritual Assistant

In his writings and throughout his life, St. Francis exemplifies that true faith must be expressed through concrete actions. That first kiss, to the leper, and then to and from the Christ of the cross of San Damiano, revealed humility, love, peace, and service to others. Francis stressed the commitment to “observe (putting words to actions) the holy Gospel” as our rule and life.

That first kiss began a living relationship with God. It led to practical, compassionate action: to see Christ in the faces of the sick and the poor, to embrace the marginalized, serving the least among us with compassion and humility. That first kiss, as a sign of faith, made a tangible embrace of suffering humanity. Faith requires a transformative journey in one’s life, and Francis models that for us. It means actively doing what Jesus did, not just talking about it.

The kiss of simplicity and detachment brings spiritual richness, not possessions. It simplifies one’s life to focus on God and others. Francis’ writings advocate for poverty and simplicity, believing that material possessions detract from one’s relationship with all of creation.

The kiss of peacemaking and reconciliation is the active pursuit of living the Beatitudes, engaging opposition peacefully and respectfully, regardless of personal, external suffering. It’s the action of sowing love where there is hatred, pardon where there is injury that encapsulates and embodies truth more powerfully than mere speech.

The kiss of penance and sacrifice is self-denial in action when united to Christ’s passion, allowing God to work through one’s own sacrifice. All of life opened to Francis in the simple gesture of the kiss, not just the privileged life he had protected. He stepped away from his family inheritance of both wealth and attitudes. The kiss disclosed Francis’ healing of his past. The kiss invigorated his vocation towards living his faith in the world. The kiss was a holy moment. God’s grace in action!

The intimate union of the kiss revealed Francis’ realization that all humanity, all creation, is beautiful. Everyone and everything are in the hands of Divine care and purpose. The kiss extinguishes judgments about others. It engages us to accompany the other, and allows us to understand the depth of the gift of God’s bountiful grace.

Let faith be the living relationship with Christ, compelling us to live a counter-cultural way of living out the Gospel in every encounter and aspect of our lives. Let us turn away from our old ways and embrace all of creation with a holy kiss, that makes all persons as our brothers and sisters, even bodily death, as our sister. Let us be humble before God, reflecting God’s own “sublime humility” in the Eucharist.