Sermon of October 2, 2005 Chuck Orme-Rogers

St. Francis is probably the most popular of all of the saints. His likeness can be seen in gardens everywhere - prominently preserved in concrete and displayed in flower beds and bird feeders across the world. Besides Ulysses S. Grant, I can imagine no other person who has been visited by so many feathered friends. He is well-known as the patron saint of animal lovers, peace-makers, and those interested in the natural world around us. And, his prayer, “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace” is one of the most recognized within the Christian community.

Growing up, Francis showed an interest in attaining military glory, but even then, his nature was sealed - he had a soft heart for those in need. You see, there was great interest in those late 12^th century days in knights who, in shining armor, would vanquish dragons and rescue fair maidens. Francis was fueled by this enthusiasm and a dream that he had in which Jesus told him that he wanted Francis to be his “knight”. So Francis convinced his prosperous father to outfit him with armor, swords, lances, and such in order to help in the fight with a neighboring town. But along the way, Francis encountered an impoverished nobleman who had nothing, and he gave his entire outfit away. Even then Francis continued on with his march, but now without proper protection, he was captured. During his imprisonment he fell ill with a high fever, and after his release and much consideration, he felt that maybe he had gotten Jesus’ message wrong. Maybe, being a “knight” for Jesus meant something different.

Well, as we all know Francis went on to serve as one of Jesus’ “knights” in a very different way, renouncing all material values and living as a hermit - embracing a life devoted to Lady Poverty. He was famous for living a very austere life and devoted himself to serving the poor and living humbly within God’s creation. He was even known to put ashes in his beans so that he wouldn’t enjoy them too much and called his body “Brother Ass” – abusing it by rolling around in the snow or a bed of thorns. Ouch!! I understand he grew to regret those decisions later in life! … But on a more serious note, he, like Paul, boasted of nothing except the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ, and in later life, even bore the marks of Christ’s suffering – the stigmata. He found in all created things, however trivial, some reflection of Divine perfection and loved to admire in them the beauty, power, wisdom and goodness of the Creator. Francis lived as though the Kingdom of God was present, immediate, and evident throughout all of nature, not just the human layer. He deeply appreciated the profound connectedness of all of God’s creation and joyously co-labored with God in his partnership with creation. Francis, indeed, seemed to quite clearly understand the interdependence of all of nature and God’s created world.

Now, if we look at the biblical tradition, we will see that it affirms that humankind occupies a special place in creation. We are, of course, all created in the image of God, made a little lower than the angels, and given “dominion” over other creatures. But often these texts have been misinterpreted in a manner in which the rest of creation is viewed simply as “resources” for our human use. In the worst cases, these texts have even been seen as warrants for our abuse and exploitation of creation. But as more recent biblical scholarship has shown, the better understanding of “dominion” does not involve exploitation and abuse, but more accurately refers to “tending to” and “caring for”. It has to do with securing the well-being of every created thing and helping to bring God’s promise of fruition to each. Dominion does not mean “domination”, but refers to the need for humans to exercise stewardship over the earth on God’s behalf. Even the second chapter of Genesis shows that humans are given the garden to tend and serve, symbolizing our obligation to care for creation.

God has woven an intricate and beautiful fabric, but human greed and exploitation is pulling at this cloth and threatening its integrity. Creation does not belong to us; creation belongs to God. We are not the owners of creation, but are God’s stewards. We are a part of God’s created world and, as such, are interlinked with the whole of God’s good creation. As I have studied the scriptures in more depth over the past several years, it has become obvious to me that a common thread throughout the text is God’s radical inclusiveness - an inclusiveness that takes into consideration all of creation. St. Francis recognized this as he expressed his thanksgiving for the world around us in the Canticle of the Sun, which we heard read to us today. Francis’ canticle recognizes sun and moon, wind and water, fire and earth as our brothers and sisters - establishing an intimate and affectionate relationship. It places creation in the position of sibling to humankind and expresses a relationship of mutuality and respect - never in a position of domination. The future and well being of one is bound with the well being of the other. Even science has weighed in on this subject - adding evidence that all creatures are genetically related and that all living things are bound together in multiple interrelated communities of life.

But the spirit of ingratitude that seems to permeate parts of the world, even some parts of world leadership, leads to a relationship with creation as one of power, control, disrespect, and misuse. Greed, lust for power, neglect, and a willingness to turn a blind eye work against the biblical, theological, and commonsensical mandates to be good stewards and keepers of God’s great earth. This blind ingratitude throws us off balance in our appreciation of the importance and beauty of working in harmony with nature.

And now, everyday, we come closer to realizing more clearly that we are harming the earth’s ability to support both human life and the rest of God’s creation. Thousands of species are dying off as they are hunted and their habitats are being destroyed. The earth’s air, water, forests, and soils are suffering more and more from pollution, depletion and overuse. Global warming and depletion of our valuable resources are in the news almost daily. And, the very beauty of the earth is in peril.

As 16^th century English reformer William Tyndale reminds us: “By the freedom from bondage delivered to us in Christ, we are indebted - not only to God, but to each other and all creation. We are indebted in mutual service to each other. We are indebted to the right use of our resources. We are but stewards to what God has provided.” It seems to me that it needs to be realized that we are not isolated units, separated from each other and creation. The power humans possess and exercise is not strictly our possession at all - it is God’s. In my visit to Guatemala last January, I realized this when I heard the Mayan prayers before planting and harvesting their crops - their thankful prayers asking permission from Mother Earth to provide for them in their using of her resources. Doesn’t this seem more reverent and responsible than our common business-like attitude toward the use of our fragile earthly home? Even our school children recognize the importance of preserving the beauty and resources of creation. In a twist of our gospel reading today, we could just as easily say, “You, God, have hidden the beauty of your created world from many of the so-called wise and intelligent and have revealed it to infants”.

In today’s hustle and bustle, many of us hardly have the time to stop and catch our breath, let alone catch a glimpse of the beauty of a creation that seems to elicit our response of sheer awe. How can we hope to have any effect on the nurture and care of God’s creation? Well, it appears to me that many things may be done in our role as members of the Body of Christ. As individuals we can choose lives of voluntary simplicity - rejecting habits of wasteful consumption, and remaining prayerfully thoughtful of our choices in the use of natural resources. I know that many of us here are concerned for the environment and God’s fragile creation. Are we also not asked to be examples and provide leadership of wise stewardship? Couldn’t we be “knights” in defending God’s great, inspiring, bountiful, “damsel in distress” - our Mother Earth?

Our Prayer Book, I believe, wisely states the essence of St. Francis’ relationship to the whole created order:

“Give us a reverence for the earth as your own creation,

that we may use its resources rightly in the service of others

and to your honor and glory.”

I am going to use this week which celebrates the contributions of St. Francis of Assisi to inventory my stewardship of the resources which I have been provided by God. Please join me.

Amen.