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

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