Feast of St. Francis of Assisi

Once a naughty boy, a playboy in the 13^th century Italy, St. Francis of Assisi (1181-1226) becomes one of the many saints inspiring many generations of people worldwide. After his conversion, he followed the teachings of the gospel so literally that he gave up everything he possessed. He left us a famous St. Francis Prayer that allows us to take a glimpse of a noble soul.
It is difficult for modern people to imagine how one could live off nothing. On TV, we are able to see starving people in famine. But how can visual images convey the smell of death, the burning heat in the stomach and the touch of hunger? Living in poverty like St. Francis is an ideal, a gospel-based ideal. We know that chances are slim that we may live literally the teachings in the gospels. So, on what can we rely in order to lead a life according to the teachings of the four canonical gospels? The reading of Psalms today may give us a hint.
His steadfast love endures for ever (Psalm 118:1b)
After the baptism of scientific revolution, modern people believe more in science than in God. It looks more rational and less superstitious to believe in science than in God. If God does not exist, how can we experience His steadfast love?
Truly, God exists and His steadfast love endures forever. Every morning, I took LRT to return to Shung Tak. Every morning, without a single exception, God would give me a seat so that I may sit down and read my Prayer Book.
Today, I brought five Shung Tak S5 students to RTHK. We had an appointment with the DJ of Teen Time to do a recording to be broadcast next Wednesday. When we left, it rained and we had only one umbrella. We had no choice but to wait until the rain stopped. It did stop briefly, time enough for us to get on a mini-bus. It rained again until we got off! God had been very considerate and had treated us well. I would repeat after the Psalter that His steadfast love endures forever.
Of course, we are no saints. I know that I am not made up of saintly materials. Yet, I will try my very best to follow the footsteps of St. Francis, to be an instrument of God's peace.

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;

where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury, pardon;

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,

grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;

to be understood, as to understand;

to be loved, as to love;

for it is in giving that we receive,

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.

Amen.