19th Sunday after Pentecost: The Feast of St. Francis

Today we are celebrating the feast of St. Francis of Assisi. His birth name was Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone. He was born into a wealthy family in Assisi, Italy, but was inspired into a life of poverty and religious devotion as a young man and would repair chapels and care for the sick in Assisi. He gathered a band of followers, who journeyed to Rome to meet Pope Innocent III, who approved the foundation of the Order of Friars Minor, now known as the Franciscans. He met and influenced Clare of Assisi, who started the Poor Clares, and attempted to end the fifth crusade. He arranged the first live nativity scene. During a religious ecstasy he displayed the wounds of Christ in 1224, and died in 1226 at the age of 44, and was canonized two years later by Pope Gregory IX. He is associated with patronage of animals and the environment and, along with Catherine of Siena, is patron saint of Italy.

In my opinion, Francis was an excellent example of following Jesus’ advice in our gospel reading today from Matthew 6. Jesus advises us not to worry, that birds fly around without worrying where they will get food, and that even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed as the lilies of the field. He advises us to strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 

St. Francis certainly had a deep love for the birds of the air and the lilies of the field, as did Jesus. It is said that Saint Francis of Assisi preached to a large flock of birds near the town of Bevagna, Italy, around 1211 or 1212. He saw many birds gathered in a field and ran to them. He called them “little sisters” and reminded them that God feeds and protects them even though they do not plant crops or sew clothes. He told them to thank God for their feathers, wings, and freedom. Legend says that the birds stretched their necks, opened their beaks, and bowed their heads in joy. 

Francis did not worry about what he would eat or what he would wear. Coming from a rich family, he certainly could have chosen to worry about those things. And he would have had a lot of options of what to eat and what to wear. But instead, he chose a life of poverty, simplicity, and service. Francis believed all creation is part of one family and shares a duty to praise God, whether the creatures are birds, fish, animals, or humans. When we praise God, we don’t worry about tomorrow, because we trust that God provides what we need. I think that’s what Jesus was getting at when he preached, “strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” We are to trust God, and use our gifts to help others. And as we do that, God will provide for our physical needs as well. 

Today, we are blessing our pets. Our pets are a special part of God’s creation. For most of us, they're an important part of our family. At least, Mochi, my dog, is certainly a big part of Marie and my family. She might be a bit of a spoiled princess, being the only young one in the house. Some of you have experienced her very enthusiastic greetings, which involve a lot of barking and paws waving in the air towards you (and, if you let her, jumping up on your lap). She certainly shows me and Marie and others the unconditional love and joy of God in a very special and unique way. 

There’s another special creature wandering around Seattle these days, also showing God’s love and joy in unique ways. Perhaps you’ve heard of him. His name is Jimothy. He is a wild raccoon with short spine syndrome, which makes him shorter and rounder-looking than most raccoons. He took social media by storm internationally this past July. According to Happy Animal Planet, locals knew about him since last year, including Ben Trammell. Trammell explains that, as a baby raccoon, Jimothy was small and clumsy, but his mother and siblings were very patient with him, keeping him from falling and sometimes just carrying him around. This is a big deal, as oftentimes raccoon mothers will abandon their cubs to die on their own, as they are seen as causing increased risk for the rest of the family’s survival. But Jimothy’s mother, who I’ve heard called “Jimberly,” disagreed, caring for her round, clumsy, cute little cub. When Jimothy got to a certain age, the family disappeared for a while. But this spring, they re-appeared in Trammell’s yard, and Jimothy is much bigger, and he seems to be thriving. He was caught on film doing this adorable move where he scratches himself, flips over sideways, then hops up on all fours again. Everyone who sees the footage agrees that Jimothy is cute, round and resilient. We all hope he can stay safe, healthy and free. Through Jimothy, God is certainly sharing love and joy with many people, as well as a story of courage, resilience, and perseverance. If anyone embodies the spirit of “not worrying,” as Jesus asks us to do today, Jimothy seems as good a candidate as any. 

Thanks to God for Jimothy, who teaches us courage and resilience. Thanks be to God for our pets. They are a special, important part of our families, who show us God’s love and joy in their own unique, quirky ways. And thanks be to God for St. Francis, who loved all your creatures, great and small, pets and wild, short-spined and regular-spined. Thanks for St. Francis’s willingness to embrace a life of simplicity, focusing not on what expensive clothes or food to eat, but instead on sharing the love and joy of your kingdom with all others, including with your creatures. Help us to embrace a life of simplicity, seeking first the kingdom of God and the love and joy of that kingdom, trusting that all else will then be added, that your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.