Week: Holy Week
As usual, we start by pausing and taking a deep breath:
In and out.
In and out.
We remember that God is here, and so together we prepare ourselves to be with God.
Pause
Creator God, who formed us from dust, breathe in us again. We’re ready for the new things that You want to show us and say to us and even create through us today.
Today we’re REFLECTING on the life of Francis of Assisi, who was born in Italy around 1182. Francis is known for many things, like dedicating his life to prayer, rebuilding a ruined church, helping those who were poor and sick, and also caring for God’s creation. Let’s begin by REFLECTING on what the Bible says about looking after the world that God created.
Read by Max
Genesis 1:26
God spoke: ‘Let us make human beings in our image, make them reflecting our nature. So they can be responsible for the fish in the sea, the birds in the air, the cattle, And, yes, Earth itself, and every animal that moves on the face of Earth.’
Genesis 1:26 (MSG)
Francis loved God, and he loved the whole of God’s creation too. He especially loved animals and there are stories of him befriending flocks of birds and even a wild wolf! In his song, ‘Canticle of the Sun’, he wrote,
We praise you, Lord, for all your creatures,
especially for Brother Sun, […]
through whom you give us light. […]
We praise you, Lord, for Sister Moon and the stars, […]
We praise you, Lord, for Brothers Wind and Air, […]
by which you cherish all that you have made.
We praise you, Lord, for Sister Water, […]
for Brother Fire, […]
for Sister Earth,
who sustains us […]
We praise and bless you, Lord, and give you thanks.*
For Francis, loving God was really simple. He cared for everyone – whether they deserved it or not – because he saw God in all people. And he also loved to encounter God through nature.
Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: What’s one thing that we really love in nature? Maybe a favourite place or favourite animal?
Loving God is not as complicated as we sometimes make it. Francis reminds us how simple it really is.
Father God, we ASK You to help us keep it simple – to love You with all our hearts, and to love everyone and everything that You have made.
Creator God, we ASK that more people would learn to love the universe that You made, just like Francis did. Help them to realise that our world – the people, the creatures and the Earth itself – should be cherished and loved, instead of greedily exploited.
There is a famous prayer called ‘the Prayer of St Francis’ which expresses love for God and for God’s world, although it probably wasn’t actually written by Francis but by someone, like us, who was inspired by his example. Let’s use this prayer as we say YES to God together.
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me bring love.
Where there is offence, let me bring pardon. […]
Where there is doubt, let me bring faith.
Where there is despair, let me bring hope.
Where there is darkness, let me bring light.
Where there is sadness, let me bring joy. **
Let’s put a hand on our heart.
Father God, fill us with Your love. Help us to love You, and everything that You’ve made.
Let’s point to our eyes.
Lord Jesus, help us to see You, and to see others the way that You see them too.
Let’s point to our ears.
Holy Spirit, help us to hear You, and give us courage to do what You say.
* This version of the Canticle of the Sun edited from https://cafod.org.uk/Pray/Prayer-resources/Canticle-of-the-sun, 22nd August 2022
** This version translated and edited from the earliest known French publication, La Clochette, n° 12, 1912, p.285. Taken from http://www.franciscan-archive.org/franciscana/peace.html, 22nd August 2022
Joy lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband, daughter and her dog. She works for Bridgetown Church where she leads kids as they grow, learn, and have lots of fun. Joy loves gardening, summer camp, eating ice cream, and reading her favourite books, The Chronicles of Narnia.
Max lives in Melbourne, Australia with his older brother and mum and dad. He often rides his bike to school and enjoys being creative by drawing or building with Lego. Max is also learning how to play the electric guitar and loves turning it up loud!
