By Francine Vincent
“Cast your burden on the Lord,
Psalm 54:22
and he will sustain you;
he will never permit the righteous to be moved.”
Francis spoke these words to his brothers when he sent them on mission. He invited them to place themselves in God, to rely on him for everything. Following in Christ’s footsteps, Francis was telling them to take upon themselves his law of love and to become meek and humble disciples. To place oneself in God is to allow oneself to be guided by him, to abandon oneself to him, to free oneself from heavy burdens in order to walk with a free and open heart on the paths of the Gospels.
Even today, in the midst of the chaos in the Holy Land, the Spirit of Francis invites us to look at our brothers and sisters, to pray that peace may reign in their hearts, opening the way to forgiveness, reconciliation and fraternity.
Jerusalem… Shalom…
City of a thousand fragrances:
cinnamon, mint, coriander…
City of a thousand colors:
white houses, bluish tiles…
Your name means:
Abode of peace…
harmony, completion, plenitude…
And yet…
You can smell the gunpowder too…
the bloodstains of vengeance
are on your children’s faces.
Can we believe that a current of love
can be strong enough to sweep away hatred?
Can we believe that these little ones, men and women
wandering the alleys of a crucified city,
can hope for a reconciliation
stronger than the spirit of vengeance?
Teach us, O Lord,
to develop a look of kindness
towards all our human brothers,
to care for them as you do so well
for your beloved children,
to open our hearts,
to place ourselves in you
so that it births a tsunami of love.
She dreams, the beautiful Jerusalem
of deserving the name she bears!
Original: Missions des Franciscains 2024-03, p. 33-34: https://www.calameo.com/read/00425616648230e27738f
Photos: Pixabay, JDBlack