“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:14
“Lord, make me an instrument of your 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;
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.”
Francis of Assisi (1181-1226) in The Prayer of Saint Francis: A Message Of Peace For The World Today by Leonardo Boff (Maryknoll: Orbis, 2001).
I received an email from National Christian Foundation yesterday that referenced this prayer. I checked and, remarkably, I had never posted it as a Daily Meditation in 14.5 years. So, I did some research.
Boff explains the history of this prayer and how it was attributed to Francis.
In short, it was said to embody the Franciscan rule of life from Scripture and their ideals for living out their faith. As it summed up the way of thinking and living, it was posted widely with his picture. From there it stuck as his prayer or his prayer for peace.
Consider how this relates to Christmas and to you and me.
It’s Christmas eve. The waiting is just about over. Soon the angels will proclaim the words of today’s Scripture. They will share the good news of peace on earth made possible through Jesus who had come to save humankind from our sins.
We who have been saved, have been saved for a purpose.
Francis would likely concur that our purpose is to serve as instruments of the peace of Christ. Read the prayer again. Make it your prayer today. So that the reason Christ came will be fulfilled in your life and through your living, giving, serving, and loving.
Happy Christmas eve. Now go be an instrument of the peace of Christ.