At that time Jesus said, ‘I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
‘Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’
Matthew 11:25-30
Many parishes will be holding Animal Services this coming Sunday, inviting people to bring their pets to church for a blessing. Why this Sunday? Because it’s the Sunday closest to the feast day of St Francis of Assisi (4 October), who was known for his love of animals. The stories of Francis taming the wolf of Gubbio, and preaching to birds are loved by many. “He went right up to them and solicitously urged them to listen to the word of God, saying, ‘Oh birds, my brothers and sisters, you have a great obligation to praise your Creator, who clothed you in feathers and gave you wings to fly with, provided you with pure air and cares for you without any worry on your part.’…The birds showed their joy in a remarkable fashion: They began to stretch their necks, extend their wings, open their beaks and gaze at him attentively.”
This invites us to expand our way of looking at things and realise that the whole of creation is loved by God and is able to praise God along with human beings. And all creation should be cared for, which is why St Francis is the patron saint of ecology and those who promote ecology. All creatures make up one family – and so a service in which the animals who share our lives are blessed is a lovely thing to do.
There is more to Saint Francis then his love of animals, however. He was the founder of the Order of Friars Minor (the Franciscans – there are branches in both the Roman Catholic and the Anglican Churches) and was known for his rejection of material possessions and embrace of poverty, his missionary zeal, and his deep love of the Church of his day. The reading above is one of those for St Francis day and emphasises the way the gospel is revealed to those who are simple. Francis died in 1226, and was canonised only 2 years later.
Holy Jesus,
give us something of Francis’ simplicity,
something of his recklessness,
something of his obedience;
give us the courage
to understand what you say
and to do it. Amen.
São Paulo Zoo, Brazil (Wikimedia Commons/Mike Peel, www.mikepeel.net)
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