St. Francis Novena | Day 3: Our world needs peace
Fr. Jeff Scheeler, OFM
Fr. Jeff Scheeler, OFM
Today let us pray for all those suffering from broken relationships and family struggles.
It is not unusual to find ourselves in situations where someone has said or done something unkind or seemingly unfair to us. We take offense. We feel angry. Maybe we feel insulted, judged, presumed upon, or mistreated. Sometimes the hurt is intentional (but often not), but the feelings still come. Often the first response is to retaliate, or at least to return some measure of what was given to us. It is almost automatic. I have been there, and I imagine you have been as well.
In those situations, I try to remember what my mom taught me about "counting to 10" and "walking in another's shoes for a bit," or at least to take a few moments to breathe and calm down. I try to remember the Prayer of St. Francis that I have often prayed, "Lord, make me an instrument of your peace," and I tell St. Francis and the Lord that I need that grace right now! I try to remember how Jesus was before his accusers.
I often think that Jesus and Francis had big hearts—hearts that had the power to transform. They were able to receive what might be dark and ugly, take it into their heart, and there it was transformed—by God's grace—so that what they gave back brought light and beauty, so different from what they received. I often pray, "Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like unto yours." The world is filled with enough pain and sorrow; I hope not to contribute more. I don't often perfectly succeed, but every little bit of peaceful presence helps.
Fr. Jeff Scheeler, OFM
(Fr. Jeff Scheeler, OFM, is the pastor of the Church of the Transfiguration in Southfield, Michigan.)
https://www.stanthony.org/day-3-fr-jeff/#:~:text=St.%20Francis%20Novena,in%20Southfield%2C%20Michigan.)
It is not unusual to find ourselves in situations where someone has said or done something unkind or seemingly unfair to us. We take offense. We feel angry. Maybe we feel insulted, judged, presumed upon, or mistreated. Sometimes the hurt is intentional (but often not), but the feelings still come. Often the first response is to retaliate, or at least to return some measure of what was given to us. It is almost automatic. I have been there, and I imagine you have been as well.
In those situations, I try to remember what my mom taught me about "counting to 10" and "walking in another's shoes for a bit," or at least to take a few moments to breathe and calm down. I try to remember the Prayer of St. Francis that I have often prayed, "Lord, make me an instrument of your peace," and I tell St. Francis and the Lord that I need that grace right now! I try to remember how Jesus was before his accusers.
I often think that Jesus and Francis had big hearts—hearts that had the power to transform. They were able to receive what might be dark and ugly, take it into their heart, and there it was transformed—by God's grace—so that what they gave back brought light and beauty, so different from what they received. I often pray, "Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like unto yours." The world is filled with enough pain and sorrow; I hope not to contribute more. I don't often perfectly succeed, but every little bit of peaceful presence helps.
Fr. Jeff Scheeler, OFM
(Fr. Jeff Scheeler, OFM, is the pastor of the Church of the Transfiguration in Southfield, Michigan.)
https://www.stanthony.org/day-3-fr-jeff/#:~:text=St.%20Francis%20Novena,in%20Southfield%2C%20Michigan.)
No comments:
Post a Comment