A Franciscan Benediction

When I was working on my Ph.D. I spent some time as the research assistant for a leading American Franciscan. At the time he was producing a new translation of the various early documents regarding Saint Francis of Assisi. That work was the beginning of my fascination with this little man who so reflected Christ that he is clearly one of the more popular saints in Christendom.

This past Sunday I used a Franciscan benediction to end my sermon. May it be a blessing to you, a source of challenge to you, a call to believe that when we serve a God for whom nothing is impossible we, too, can do that which the world says cannot be done.

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May God bless you with discomfort
at easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships
so that you may live deep within your heart.
May God bless you with anger
at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people,
so that you may work for justice, freedom and peace.
May God bless you with tears
to shed for those who suffer pain, rejection, hunger and war,
so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and
to turn their pain into joy.
And may God bless you with enough foolishness
to believe that you can make a difference in the world,
so that you can do what others claim cannot be done
to bring justice and kindness to all our children and the poor.
Amen.