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Prayers and ReflectionsThe Lord Give You PeacePEACE … PACE … PAIX … PAX … FRIEDE … EIPHNH … VREDE … PAZ
Read: Francis knew the power of words to influence actions and lifestyle. He directed his companions to greet one another with the words, “May the Lord give you peace.” He recognised that quite often our words become realities. For example, if we deliberately and studiously speak peaceably, we begin to feel peaceful. From this inner peace then comes the courage and conviction to work seriously to make God’s reign of peace present again not only in our words but also in our work, in our very bodily gestures and stance. As a consequence, an environment of gentleness and peace is created around us and this influences others. We have surely experience of a person entering a room and changing the whole atmosphere there … we can become such a person. If this stance is not ours by nature, we can cultivate it … but we are the only ones who can change ourselves. Francis also knew that, ironically, peace not infrequently involves struggle. For instance, we struggle with our desire for revenge, greed and anger. At another level our desire for personal satisfaction and comfort, for more personal space and privacy militate against generosity. But we know that for individuals of deep conviction, peace-making certainly requires giving up our own desires for comfort and space, it requires action and reaching out and on occasion may even require risking jail or death. Early Franciscan history reveals the success of Francis’ call to peace. The original Third Order – laypersons who followed Francis – abandoned their swords and other weapons. This bold, counter-cultural step contributed significantly to the spread of peace throughout the Italian city-states. Pause for a Time of Reflection: Think about your own manner of speech … the language you use, the tone of voice, the gestures you make and your stance. Evaluate these in relation to creating an atmosphere of peace. Reflection is important but not enough: Choose just one thing to work on in yourself. Just one! Something as small as just putting your knife down silently … every time … just the knife. Because if you really make the effort to change one aspect of yourself that is not conducive to peacemaking, you will be surprised to find yourself unconsciously changing others as well. Pray: Come O Spirit of Peace: Read: Our world is a lot like the world in Francis’ time. War-making was the common practice: between people, towns, countries and empires. Francis lived out his life against the backdrop of the “Holy Wars”. His own limited involvement in the 5th Crusade of 1218 changed his entire life. Francis begged Cardinal Pelagius, as leader of the Christians, to implore them to stop their killing. Instead they broke off any possible diplomatic channels to Malik-al-Kamil, the Sultan of Egypt, and turned up the heat in the fighting. So Francis decided to approach the enemy’s Chief of State – the Sultan – hoping to convert him. He went unarmed, and was prepared to face extreme danger, even being chained and beaten by the soldiers, but he was received with respect by the Sultan who gave him safe passage home. By current standards we might see Francis as naïve or downright stupid. But through the eyes of the Gospel, which was for Francis his rule of life – we get a different and deeper picture of the process and cost of making peace:
Pause for Personal Consideration: Stay with these stories and think about how you would act in a situation where you were called to stand up and be counted to contribute to peace. Pray: Come O Spirit of Peace: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ Francis held a special place in his heart for Brother Giles, one of his first companions, because Giles always had words of encouragement and wisdom and sowed peace and love wherever he was (cf. Bodo 77). Today Francis would direct to each of us these encouraging messages using the style of the Beatitudes. Blessed are you who possess the great virtue of Hope: Blessed are you who carry no arms, who are open to dialogue and to
mutual fraternal correction, and who are meek: Blessed are you who work consistently to become a peace maker yourself: Blessed are you who find within yourself words and gestures of encouragement,
consolation and active non-violence in moments of disturbance, criticism
and abuse: Blessed are you when you know how to really hear the voices of others;
to understand rightly their pleas and their silence: Blessed are you when you choose to be vulnerable: Blessed are you when you commit yourself to peace, justice and safeguarding
creation through the witness of your life, more with concrete attitudes
than with words: Pray: Source of all Goodness and Life, I am grateful for all the holy ones
who have blazed peace trails before us, especially Francis: May I come to know my own unique trail to blaze in the ways of your
peace: Give me the strength and courage, to live a life of authentic peace-making
in all the circumstances of my daily life: Fill me with your Spirit so that I may be a joyful witness to your
love and care for all: I make these prayers in the name of Jesus who showed us the way. Amen. Memorise this short Prayer and say it often: Come O Spirit of Peace:
References:
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© Missionary Franciscan Sisters, Australian Governance Circle |
Francis
taught his companions to use the greeting “The
Lord give you peace!” And he said to them, “When
you proclaim peace by your words, you must carry an even greater
peace in your hearts. Let no one be provoked to anger by you, or
be scandalized, but let your gentleness encourage all people to
peace, good will and mutual love. For our calling is to heal the
wounded, to tend the maimed and to bring home those who have lost
their way.” (Clissold, The
Wisdom of St Francis,
pp 31-32)