Many years ago, when I was in college, I drove home along I-95 for an extended weekend.

A relative recently asked for my opinion on her pastor’s Bible commentary recommendation to her. Of course, the commentaries he recommended are those he uses for his own personal study. I considered his list of three and, whereas they would provide a reader with some interesting information on the Bible, in my opinion, they were not the best for helping someone better understand the message of the Bible.

The Book of Acts describes an encounter between Phillip, a newly minted deacon, and an Ethiopian court official, who was sitting in a chariot reading Isaiah 53. The Spirit of God directed Phillip to ask him if he understood what he was reading. “How can I, unless someone guides me? About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or someone else?” Phillip told him from the Scriptures the good news about Christ Jesus, and that man put his faith in Christ.

To conclude this series on the Prayer of St. Francis, read the prayer in its entirety again:

In the last section of the Prayer of St. Francis, he continues to look beyond himself to the greater need and good of others. He wrote:

“Where there is despair, [let me sow] hope;”

There are many reasons people in our society today feel despair. There is political volatility, continued racial unrest, great inequality with regard to income levels. Health concerns and the cost of treatments continue to skyrocket. The list seems endless. Yes, there is much to cause people to despair.

My wife has a gift for making up rhymes. She will observe something interesting or unusual and a moment later some clever verse will spill from her lips, usually to an improvised tune. I think to myself, we should be writing these down, but the moment passes, and her verse is lost.

The Prayer of St. Francis continues, “Where there is injury, [let me sow] pardon;”

There are all kinds of injuries that take place in a person’s life. An “injury” can be physical, mental or spiritual. Unfortunately, it seems we live in a world where getting even is the first reaction when an injury occurs. Make the other person suffer as much as the victim has been made to suffer. Sue! Go for the deep pockets and get all kinds of money. Don’t get even – get more than even!

In my previous article I shared with you a little bit about the man we know as St. Francis of Assisi. As a young man he became disillusioned with his family’s wealth and all the trappings that went along with it. His heart was changed by the living Christ, and he became an advocate of the poor, living in poverty himself, and answering the call to “fix” Christ’s broken church.

Francis was born into a very wealthy family. He never wanted for anything while growing up at home. He enjoyed the finer things in life. His mother doted on him. His father provided very well for the family. During his childhood, he lacked for nothing.