Inspired by last weeks Franciscan Benediction that Paul shared with us from Work of the People * and Richard Rohr Centre for Action and Contemplation* talking about St Francis of Assisi in the context of non violence and peacemaking, I was inspired to be a bit Franciscan this morning.
- https://www.theworkofthepeople.com/ A Franciscan Benediction
- https://cac.org/ Daily Meditations
We read the words from our liturgy
Rooted and Grounded
This morning we are here to touch the cold, wet, earth 
Firm under our feet
Here we are rooted and grounded
In this Thin Space/Third Space
To stand on …
God made Holy Ground,
This is holy ground …
Giving us roots and wings,
Here in this place teeming with creatures
like the first creation,
Seeing the magnificence
elemental, historical, futuristic
Where the grass sings and the earth hums
Roots and wings
Rooting us, upholding us
Help us to see God in this place
All connecting, my life, our lives, all life 
to share our own joys, sorrows and laughter
and intercede for all in God’s earth.
Followed by the Franciscan Canticle of the Creatures
Most High, all powerful, good Lord,
to you be praise, glory, honour and all blessing.
Only to you, Most High, do they belong
and no one is worthy to call upon your name.
May you be praised, my Lord, with all your creatures,
especially Sir brother sun,
through whom you lighten the day for us.
He is beautiful and radiant with great splendour.
He signifies you, O Most High.
Be praised, my Lord, for sister moon and the stars,
clear and precious and lovely, they are formed in heaven.
Be praised, my Lord, for brother wind;
and by air and clouds, clear skies and all weathers,
by which you give sustenance to your creatures.
Be praised, my Lord, for sister water,
who is very useful and humble and precious and pure.
Be praised, my Lord, for our sister, mother earth,
who sustains and governs us
and produces diverse fruits
and coloured flowers and grass.
Sharing the story in which Francis meets with the wolf that has been terrorising the villagers of Gubbio and eating their livestock. The villagers were convinced that the wolf would attack Francis, but on meeting the wolf Francis discovers the wolf is too old to hunt wild animals and was finding the villager’s animals easy prey. He persuades the villagers to feed the wolf and in turn the wolf leaves the livestock alone. The bravery of Francis lead to peace between the villagers and the wolf.
We were challenged about how we can be courageous in bringing peace in the situations and the world in which we live.
Prayer
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Like that of Christ, our mission on earth is to bring to others God’s peace.
God’s state of “perfect well-being” and completeness. Shalom is the Hebrew word for this rich concept of “peace.” Often used as a greeting of peace, Shalom is a wish that those so greeted will find healing and fullness of life.
Pray that you can bring Shalom to those you meet this coming week.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love,
Saint Francis tells his followers, “Our Lord says in the Gospel, Love your enemies (Matthew 5: 44). If we feel offence, injury, anger, hurt or rejection how do we handle that is the light of loving our enemies.
Pray for those we know who need to know love.
Where there is injury, pardon,
During the violence-ridden Crusades, Francis discovered a path of peace, pardon and non-violence. The “little poor man” went to Egypt to engage in a peaceful dialogue with the sultan, a meeting in which a spirit of forgiveness, respect and understanding prevailed. Francis would have the same message for those in our times who are so quick to see violence as the only cure for terrorism.
Pray for the miracle of God’s peace to be in the hearts of those who lead in our world.
Where there is doubt, faith,
Pray for those who have lost faith or who have their faith sorely challenged ask God to show you ways that can restore faith to those people.
Where there is despair, hope/Where there is darkness, light,
Think of Saint Francis following Jesus example and embracing lepers and lovingly washing their sores. Surely, many of those suffering souls felt an inner surge of hope and human dignity when they experienced care.
Pray for the strength to show care and love in difficult situations
And where there is sadness, joy.
Francis used to say that he wanted his followers to go about the world like strolling minstrels, “to inspire the hearts of people and stir them to spiritual joy.” They give us an example to follow in our own day!
Pray that we will be like those strolling minstrels and inspire the hearts of people we meet who feel sadness
For ourselves we pray
Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand and to be loved as to love
Pray for awareness that
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.
The Peace
May deep peace be in our thinking
May deep peace be in our hearts
May there be deep peace between us and God’s good earth
And may the deep peace of Jesus be with us.
We broke bread and poured out wine to the words
The bread
It represents
The provision of God
The bountiful harvest
The work of the labourer
The hands of the baker
In remembrance
Of bread broken
And shared
Of a body broken
Of a people blessed
And a forgiveness shared
The wine
It represents
The provision of God
The bountiful harvest
The work of the labourer
The skill of the vintner
In remembrance
The ransom paid
The hands pierced
The blood shed
The redemption
The celebration of the resurrection
Paul read the Franciscan Benediction
May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers Half-truths and superficial relationships
So that you may live deep within your heart
May God bless you with anger at injustice,
Oppression and exploitation of people
So that you may work for justice, freedom and peace
May God bless you with tears to shed
For those who suffer pain, rejection, hunger and war
So that you may reach out your hand
To comfort them and turn their pain to joy
So that you can do
What others claim cannot be done
To bring justice and kindness to all our children
And the poor
AMEN
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