Brothers in Christ

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Canticle of the Creatures, Christ Jesus, peace of God, Philippians, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Paul, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, trials

On this feast of St. Francis, one of the most beloved of Christian saints, I was struck by the second lectionary reading from St. Paul’s Letter to the Philippians (PHIL 4:6-9). It’s an uplifting text that is familiar and rather typical of Paul in his moments of encouragement to the followers of Jesus. What crossed my mind, however, about this reading today was the similarity in the lives of Francis and Paul regarding suffering.

Reading Francis, especially works like his “Canticle of the Creatures,” one would sometimes think his life as one idyllic, carefree day after another. We know, however, the suffering he endured from others, in his own body and even from his “band of brothers.” Yet he was always aware of the presence and blessings of God. Paul’s trials were similar if not matching – most at the hands of those who persecuted him for the faith he had found in Christ.

I can hear Francis echoing the words of Paul from the Letter to the Philippians this morning and I give thanks for both as worthy servants of God. Listen:

Brothers and sisters: have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think on these things…Then the God of peace will be with you.

Fervent Prayers

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earth's children, John Philip Newell, life, love, love of the Earth, peace of God, prayer, Praying With the Earth, strengthen, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

I picked up John Philip Newell’s book, Praying with the Earth, just now and found two prayers for Saturday morning that seemed helpful. The first was entitled Prayer for the Life of the World and the second was a Prayer of Blessing. I imagined a great gathering of people praying the prayers together and the peace of God flowing through the earth bringing peace. May it be so in our time.

1. To the home of peace, to the field of love, to the land where forgiveness and right relationship meet we look, O God, with longing for earth’s children, with compassion for the creatures, with hearts breaking for the nations and people we love. Open us to visions we have never known, strengthen us for self-givings we have never made, delight us with a oneness we could never have imagined that we may truly be born of You as makers of peace.
2. May the love of life fill our hearts. May the love of earth bring joy to heaven. May the love of self deepen our souls. May the love of neighbor heal our world. As nations, as peoples, as families this day may the love of life heal our world. (p. 52)

It’s About Being

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Alan Cohen, chant, Darlene Franz, God's face, heart, inner awakening, light, peace of God, presence, psalm 27, seek, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, transform the world, transformation

There’s a line in the Psalm response of today’s lectionary that got me singing – internally, of course, since I haven’t been awake long enough to trust my outer voice! What I heard inside my head was Darlene Franz’s chant, a call and response that says Seek my face in all things. Your face, O Lord, I will seek.  (cf. PS 27, vs. 10) Although it’s usually annoying to have a tune running just below the surface one’s mind for days, I think I would welcome this one since it reminds me where I should be putting my attention. I was encouraged by that train of thought when I read Alan Cohen’s ‘daily word’ in which he offered the following paragraph.

To walk with the peace of God in your heart is to transform the world by your presence. When love is your keynote, there is nothing in particular you need to do; your gift is your being. Many people seek to change the world by getting everyone to join their religion or organization, use their product, agree with their philosophy, or replicate their experience. But real transformation does not come from manipulating people or events; it proceeds naturally from inner awakening and then living in the light.

May our footsteps today seek to awaken us to the light of God’s face.