Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity, October 6th, 2019

Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity, October 6th, 2019

This week we celebrated the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, which falls annually on October 4th.  Without a doubt, St. Francis loved God and wanted to do His will in life.  Whenever I think of St. Francis I think of his striving to do the will of God.  He wanted to know what God wanted him to do.  This is why St. Francis asked God, "Lord, what would you have me do?"   Certainly, isn't this what every devout, committed Christian should ask God:  "Lord, what would you have me do?"   It usually ends up being the opposite, though, when we pray.  "Lord, I would have you do this for me."  "Lord, will you do this for me?"  We get more caught up in what God can do for us than what we can do for God.  St. Francis had it right when he asked:  "Lord, what would you have me do?"   This is the question all of us should ask on a daily basis. 

 In this day and age in which we live, we get all worked up over what we see on the news . . . what we see in social media .  . . . what our friends are talking about.  We get all worked up over what this politician says . . .  or doesn't say, for that matter.  We get all worked up over what the media says.  We get all flustered over what this bishop is going to say or going to do.  But, truth be known, we would all simplify our lives considerably if we would simply echo the words of St. Francis:  "Lord, what would you have me do?" and then go from there.  "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God." (Romans 12:2)  St. Paul wanted us to be transformed by God instead of being transformed by the world or conformed to this world.   St. Paul also prayed: "that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God." (Ephesians 3:17)    We should all pray this prayer of St. Paul that we would have the fullness of God in us.  Most of us want to be full, alright.   We want to fill ourselves with the "goodies" that this would has to offer.  Whether it be food . . . . or possessions . . .  or riches . . .  or power . . . . or fame . . . .  We want to be filled with the desires of our heart, whatever form that takes.   We want to be satisfied by what we want.  But St. Francis had it right:  "Lord, what would you have me do?"  Fill your mind and your heart with God and there won't be any room in your mind and heart for the things of this world.  

St. Margaret Church meets each and every Sunday morning at 9:30 AM.  We worship at the beautiful Chapel at Marquette Manor, located at 8140 N. Township Line Road on the Northwest side of Indianapolis.  We use the King James Bible and the 1928 Book of Common Prayer.  Come join us as we listen to God speak to us through His Word.  At Communion time, we receive the Precious Body and Blood of Christ to nourish us and give us strength for our journey called life.