Thoughts for Pet Sunday

Francis and the Leper

        1.    Story of Francis and the Leper –

        2.     Francis and Penance

For Francis this was beginning of his life of penance and of the Order of Friars Minor.

it all started here among Lepers

For early brothers their formation in this life began in ministry among Lepers

led him let go of everything

in doing so encountered living God in all people

            all creatures and all creation

means by which he returned that love

All of this Francis said later was penance

Penance such an interesting word

not very fashionable, so negative

defined as

1:  an act of self-abasement, mortification, or devotion performed to show sorrow or repentance for sin

2:  a sacramental rite that is practiced in Roman, Eastern, and some Anglican churches and that consists of private confession, absolution, and a penance directed by the confessor

3:  something (as a hardship or penalty) resembling an act of penance (as in compensating for an offense)

none of which sound like much fun

not word use very much

Those us Third Order shy away from name given by Francis to Order 800 years ago – Order of Penitents

       3.     Making Room

In “The Art of Letting Go” Richard Rohr suggests Francis understood penance as “making room for God” making room for God

But making room for God that feels like something very different.

Penance is making room

Francis made room for the leper – and everything changed

       4.     Pets and making room

muffy and making room –

            every meal time encourages me to make room for her and to share

            sitting often come encourage me to make room for her, lying on top fo me

                        pushing my legs off leg rest

helps me make room in my life for exercise and to enjoy this amazing palce I live in by encouraging me to take her for walks on the beach, or anywhere really

and so it goes

that’s what pets do

help us make room

for them

through that – like Francis – for others

            for ourselves

            for creation

What an amazing gift they give us.

why we treasure them and this gift

      5.     SPCA

In our gratitude let us also remember work of SPCA

work that is needed because there are too many who refuse the invitation of their pets

can’t make room

too self obsessed

unable to care pets

sadly go further and abuse them

own dog rescued after left tied up after owners left

so while honour pets today

let us remember work SPCA

pray and work for world we all are able to make room

no longer needed