麻豆约拍

Good morning.听

Yesterday, the 4th October, would normally be the Feast of St Francis of Assisi but we missed it this year as it was a Sunday.听 St Francis was always one of the most popular of the Catholic Saints but he seems to have become even more so because Pope Francis took his name and has modelled so much of his ministry on his life. St Francis is credited with saying something like: 鈥淎lways preach the Gospel, sometimes use words鈥�. That is powerful. We are very good with words. Many of us, including myself, spend what seems to be all too much time talking in conversations, meetings, or writing letters or papers about what we believe. Far more powerful are the occasions when, instead of explaining what we could and should be doing for the better, we actually do it. St Francis achieved so much by his living a very simple life and by his love for and care for people and creation which he understood as one:听 people and creatures together in harmony. Even in his lifetime, because of his personal example, thousands of people embraced the Franciscan simplicity which radically promoted peace and well-being in societies that had been engaged in envy, greed and conflict.

Pope Francis would have us see ourselves as in partnership with our world and care for it as our common home. I suspect that most of us are about to start a busy day.听 Too much to do, and most of it in a rush. Of course, it is good to be busy but not so busy that we forget simple values.

Lord, today I pray I will find moments to stop and be thankful for all that I have and enjoy and value. May I show what I believe not so much in my words as in my actions.听 Amen.

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