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John W. MartensOctober 04, 2010

I woke up with this song and the first lyric running through my mind. As I walked my dog this early morning, which seems appropriate, the rest of this ode to Saint Francis of Assisi came to me, by way of the great Sam Cooke. It seems that hardly anyone throughout Christian history has been so faithful to the simplicity which Jesus calls us to in the Gospels than Francis. The Gospel passage for the Feast Day of Saint Francis is Luke 10:25-37, "The Parable of the Good Samaritan." Has anyone lived out more fully Jesus' command to "Go and do likewise" to all of God's creation than Francis of Assisi?

Don't know much about A-ssisi

Don't know much Theology

Haven’t memorized the Good Book

Don't know much about a Bishop’s crook

 

But I do know that Francis loves you

And I know that if we love you too

What a wonderful world this would be

 

Don't know much about birds and bees

Don't know much animal husbandry

Don't know much about poverty

Still strive to live life with charity

 

But I do know that One is Three

And if everyone could love like you

What a wonderful world this would be

 

Now I don't claim to always be at Peace

But I'm trying to be

So maybe by being at Peace daily

I can grasp your love for me

 

Don't know much about A-ssisi

Don't know much Theology

Haven’t memorized the Good Book

Don't know much about a Bishop’s crook


But I do know that Francis loves you

And I know that if we love you too

What a wonderful world this would be.

John W. Martens

 

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