“Let Us Begin Again..”
St.Francis of Assisi extends this invitation to
us: “Let us begin again”
January, the beginning of a new year! It is a cold
month. We expect it, we dress for it, we take precautions. This
first month of a new year extends to us an invitation to celebrate life, to
begin again. We respond by putting up a new calendar, making resolutions,
reconnecting with family and friends, and in some areas of our country we
hibernate.
In the Franciscan family we turn to our brother
Francis of Assisi, who encourages us to “begin again, brothers and sisters, for
up till now we have done very little”. What a blessing it is
to be invited to begin anew, to become the person God created us to be.
Beginning again is a risk. It takes courage: to go forward into the unknown, to
reach out to welcome the stranger, to take a stand for Justice and Peace, to be
open to those who are different from us, to listen with our hearts, to be
patient, to surrender our opinion, to seek forgiveness, to face our
shortcomings, to trust God ever present with us and within us, to go forward
into the unknown with openness and surrender. At the Last
Supper Jesus gave his apostles a special gift: “Peace I leave with you,
my peace I give you.” “This gift was not given for them to
hide or hoard, it was meant to empower them to make peace and to spread peace
throughout the earth.”
…Peacemaking begins when we recognize peace is God’s
work. We are God’s instruments in the process.
...Peacemaking grows as we live our Franciscan call…and
become more conscious of our solidarity will people everywhere and with all
creation.
…Peacemaking finds expression in our actions as reconcilers
of injustice, as stewards of creation and as sharers of God’s peace with
others.”
From: Announce Peace
(p.4) A Franciscan
Reflection on the Bishop’s Pastoral: The Challenge of Peace
From the words
of St. Francis:
“Let the sisters and brothers be gentle, peaceful and
unassuming, mild and humble, speaking respectful to all … in greeting others,
let them say, “The Lord give you peace.”
Rule: Chapter 5 Article 20
Rule: Chapter 5 Article 20
“The sisters and brothers are called to heal the wounded, to
bind up those who are bruised, and to reclaim the erring.”
Rule: Chapter 9, Article 30
Rule: Chapter 9, Article 30
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called
children of God.” The true peacemakers are those who preserve
peace of mind and body for love of Our Lord Jesus Christ, despite what they
suffer in the world.” Admonition XV
“Wherever they are, or wherever they go, throughout the
whole world, the brothers or sisters should not be quarrelsome, contentious, or
judgmental toward others. Rather, it should be obvious that they are
joyful, good-humored, and happy in the Lord as they ought to be. And in greeting others, let them
say, “The Lord give you peace.” Rule Chapter
5, Article 20
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