An icon of St Francis talking with the animals.
Sermon by Reverend Matt Harbage.
Readings: Genesis 1.1-13; Mark 1.1-11.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Today is the 4th of October: It’s International Zookeeper Day, World Animal Day & St Francis’ Day.
So I want to begin by asking you a question: Who here has a pet? What pet do you have?
What pet would you like?
I’m going to share a little story about St Francis.
St Francis loved animals. All animals. It’s told that he even preached to the birds.
But I should start the story at the beginning: Francis was born just over 800 years ago in Assisi in Italy.
He was actually baptised with the name ‘Giovanni’ by his mother, but when his father returned from business in France he declared no, his name was to be Francis.
Francis’ family was very wealthy indeed – but Francis felt a call from God to give up his money and power, and was told by God to ‘build my church’.
He did – literally rebuilt churches all around the countryside of Assisi.
And as he did so, he shared his love of God with those he met, and shared his joy in God’s creation: he called the Earth, “brother Earth” and the moon, “sister moon”. He even, so it’s told, shook hands with a wolf who had been terrorising a village.
St Francis reminds us to love and care for all of God’s creation.
He reminds us to care for animals and our fragile ecosystem.
But St Francis also reminds us to continue to ‘build God’s church’ and we are doing that this morning, as we welcome the newest member into God’s church through baptism – Leo.
Who knows who the next saint Francis will be? In 800 years will people tell stories of Leo’s faith, and Leo’s care of this earth? Maybe.
So inspired by the saints, may we all show great love to one another and our planet. Amen.
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