Read: Matthew 5:13-16
This past week many people remembered the life of St. Francis of Assisi who died on October 3, 1226. In most circles St. Francis of Assisi is well known for a prayer that he may never have written. The Prayer of Saint Francis has become one of the most beloved prayers of Christianity and yet it is not found in any of his shared writings today. He definitely lived a life focused around the teachings of Jesus and encouraged others to live this way as well, so perhaps he lived out the words of this prayer even if he never wrote them down. Or, perhaps he did write them down? We really don’t know for sure.
The prayer is a wonderful encouragement of how we are to live our lives as followers of Jesus Christ. Many of the phrases can be taken from the teachings of Jesus in the gospels and can definitely bring light, grace, peace, and joy to our world. May these words be an encouragement for all of us this week and may we be used as instruments of God’s peace.
Prayer of Saint Francis
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace; Where there is hatred, let me sow love; Where there is injury, pardon; Where there is doubt, faith; Where there is despair, hope; Where there is darkness, light; And where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; To be understood as to understand; To be loved as to love; For it is in giving that we receive; It is in pardoning that we are pardoned; And it is dying that we are born to eternal life.
Make It Personal: If you were to write out a prayer what would it say? How could it encourage you to give thanks, be inspired, and be faithful to the teachings of Jesus? Perhaps we should all have a prayer that is attributed to our name?
Have a peace-filled week, Glen Rhodes
