Teach Us to be Insturments of Your Peace

 

Memorial of Saint Francis of Assisi

~~~ Baruch 1:15-22 ~~~ Psalm 79 ~~~ Luke 10:13-16 ~~~

 

Saint Francis of Assisi took the words of Jesus to heart.

He literally took nothing for the journey.

There has been much written about the life of Francis.

He is one of the most beloved of the Saints.

He is most often pictured with nature especially the animals.

Lord make me an instrument of your peace...

is one of his most popular prayers.

 

We are now blessed with Pope Francis, who has made it very

apparent to the world he fully embraces the example of Saint Francis.

 

Today the message of caring for the poor is more important

 than the acquisition of wealth.

Pope Francis has demonstrated to us in many ways

he values a simple pious life

as opposed to the typical pomp and circumstance

surrounding the papacy. 

 

 

Whoever listens to you listens to me.
Whoever rejects you rejects me.
And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.

The scripture readings today are calling us back

 to the root meaning of the Gospel message.

 

The first reading is taken from the book of the prophet Baruch.

You may not be familiar with this Old Testament book of the Bible.

 

Just before the beginning of today's reading are these words 

Pray that the LORD may give us strength, and light to our eyes...(v.12)

 

This chapter is a confession of guilt.

We have sinned in the LORD’s sight and disobeyed him.

We have not listened to the voice of the LORD, our God,

so as to follow the precepts the LORD set before us.

 

God is the only one who will judge not only our actions,

 but also the personal intentions of our heart.

We can pay lip service to the Gospel message

of caring for the poor and trusting in the Lord.

But what is the cover of a book if all the pages are missing?

 

Justice is with the Lord, our God;
and we today are flushed with shame...

 

I do not believe shame or embarrassment is the best motivator.

Shame did put Adam and Eve in fig leaves after

 they were disobedient to God.

 Being remorseful for past offenses,

 however, is an important factor effecting our future decisions.

A component in the formation our personal moral code.

 

Saint Francis walked away from the wealth

of his family and embraced poverty.

His conversion of heart brought him more wealth than any

amount of money could have represented.

 

Saint Francis and Pope Francis call us to find a new balance

in our heart...a real sense of humility and simplicity.

 

Today let us join together in praying for Pope Francis

 as he brings to light in our world

 the peaceful loving message of Saint Francis.

 

Blessings come in loving and welcoming

our sisters and brothers with open arms

just as Saint Francis modeled with nature and the animals.

 

Saint Francis of Assisi,

pray for us.

Teach us to be Instruments of Peace.