Feast of St. Francis Reflection

[Rev. Bob Johnnene OFD]

Peace Be With You
A Reflection for the feast of Saint Francis of Assisi
By Rev. Robert Johnnene OFD
Mission Saints Sergius and Bacchus / Franciscans of Divine Mercy
Reformed Catholic Church New England
www.missionstsergius.org


"Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let
me sow love."
These words from the peace prayer of Saint Francis could not be more
poignant today than at the time they were first attributed to our
seraphic Father, Saint Francis of Assisi whose feast day is Sunday the
4th of October.
This year we not only honor the Seraphic Father of all Franciscan
orders around the world but the 800th anniversary of the approval of
the Rule of St. Francis by which we all live.
There are Franciscans in the Anglican, Roman, Reformed and Old
Catholic traditions.
While watching the film of the life of Saint Francis I was reminded of
a another film THE GROUND TRUTH which depicts the horrors that our men
and women who fight in wars face on return.
Like the young men and women of today in that film who went off to
fight for their country in the belief that they were doing the right
thing after 9/11, St. Francis had gone off to fight for his state and
became very sick and in that sickness saw a vision of Christ. He came
to the realization that war was not an answer.
Francis came back to denounce all violence and the corrupt and
excessive ways of the world.
He rejected all the fineries and luxuries of the world for the simple
life.
Francis then went on to restore a sense of God’s infinite mercy and
love and the message of Christ peace into the world and the church of
his time.
He lived off the generosity of others and on what he received for his
labor, in fact it is a part of his rule that all Franciscans work for
their basic needs and beg for things to continue their service to
Almighty God.
After watching the film on St. Francis I revisited the film THE GROUND
TRUTH, which depicts the effect war has had on the innocent youth of
our nation who volunteered to serve their country in the belief that
they were doing their patriotic duty after the terrible events of
9/11. The film is told in their words and the words of the parents who
lost their children. Most of those in the film feel abandoned by
their country especially after their child gave the ultimate
sacrifice.
THE GROUND TRUTH, is a film that every person in the world should see.
It will open your mind just a powerfully as the vision of Christ did
for Saint Francis.
The toll of war is one that society lives with for centuries to come
and if it is not addressed today by all of us it will continue to take
a toll on our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
I am also reminded of the song I used to sing with my students LET
THERE BE PEACE ON EARTH written by Sy Miller and Jill Jackson in 1955
another time of an uncertain and questionable war. It has the
following words; "Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with
me, Let there be peace on earth, the peace that was meant to be. With
God as our Father, brothers all are we, Let me walk with my brother,
in perfect harmony. Let peace begin with me, let this be the moment
now.”
I urge everyone, on this feast of St. Francis, to think seriously
about how war and greed are destroying lives and ask yourselves what
you might be able to do to bring about changes.
Ask yourself if the consequences of war are worth the toll that is
taking on our future generations.
There has got to be a better way as Saint Francis concluded and just
possibly, He and Almighty God are trying to tell us the same thing on
this the day we celebrate his life and the 800th anniversary of the
approval of the Rule All Franciscan orders live by.
Let us all say aloud the words of Christ found in John 14:27, "Peace
be with you .my peace be unto you" (Luke 24:36) and call to mind the
directions given in Psalm 34:14, “Turn from evil and do good; seek
peace and pursue it.” And from Jeremiah 28:9 “But the prophet who
prophesies peace will be recognized as one truly sent by the LORD only
if his prediction comes true."
I end with the words from Romans 14:19 “Let us therefore make every
effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.” and the
words of Christ from the sermon on the Mount “Blessed are the
PEACEMAKERS, for they shall be known as the Children of God.”
May the spirit of Saint Francis and His desire to bring the peace of
Christ into everyone’s heart and soul fill us with that desire and
draw us to action in achieving true and lasting peace among all God’s
children.
AMEN