“How could I not
look sad when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins, and its
gates have been eaten out by fire?" The king asked me, "What is it,
then, that you wish?" I prayed to the God of heaven and then answered the
king: "If it please the king, and if your servant is deserving of your
favor, send me to Judah, to the city of my ancestors' graves, to rebuild it." Nehemiah 2:3B-5
And another said,
"I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say farewell to my family at
home." Jesus answered him, "No one who sets a hand to the plow and
looks to what was left behind is fit for the Kingdom of God." Luke 9:61-62
Piety
Lord, make me an
instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy;
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy;
O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in
giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Study
Earlier this week, Jesus highlighted a young, powerless child
who is fully reliant on others as the model for our discipleship. Today, he drills home that point by stressing
that nothing should come before our reliance upon God. Not family commitments. Not jobs. Nothing. He goes on warn us that that
discipleship will not be a rose garden. If the Son of Man has nowhere to lie
his head, then neither will the disciples who follow him.
Action
Do we ever need the Memorial of St. Francis! Right NOW!
Puerto Rico and Houston and parts of Florida and other
areas have been devastated by hurricanes.
Mexico is reeling from two earthquakes.
Western states are starting to get snow and rains to
quench the wildfires.
Nuclear-tipped sabers rattle between North Korea and the
US.
And now, the playground of America, Las Vegas, is still
treating the wounded and notifying next-of-kin to the 59 who died in a blizzard
of gunfire Sunday night.
St. Francis, we need you now. In the spirit of your
rebuilding the church in the 13th century, we need to rebuild our
sense of civility and love toward each other. In the face of evil, we see
incredible outpouring of love. Yet we
still have to overcome the ways evil is manifest in our world.
Make me a channel to bridge traditional and progressive.
Where there is authenticity, let me sow inclusion.
Where there is social justice, let me sew a seamless
garment of life.
Where there is fidelity, let me sow commitment.
O Divine Master, open the ears of our hearts so that we
can live in each other’s shoes.
 |
| Assisi, March 2008 |
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