All Creatures Lift Their Voices


Introduction

Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Beatrice, Neb., held a “Blessing of the Animals” service for the community at 6 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2009. This is the meditation from that service.

Readings

Genesis 1:24-31
Psalm 104:10-24
Matthew 6:25-33

Message

St. Francis is beloved
throughout the whole Church
for his generous and selfless concern for others,
his passion for sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ,
and for his lyrical love of nature.

According to legend,
St. Francis was traveling one day
with his companions.
They came to a place
where trees filled with birds
lined either side of the path.

He said to his friends,
“Wait for me while I go to preach to my sisters, the birds.”
He walked into the midst of the birds
as they flocked around him.
He spoke to them, saying:
“My sister birds, you owe much to God, and you must always and in everyplace give praise to Him; for He has given you freedom to wing through the sky and He has clothed you…you neither sow nor reap, and God feeds you and gives you rivers and fountains for your thirst, and mountains and valleys for shelter, and tall trees for your nests. And although you know neither how to spin nor how to weave, God dresses you and your children, for the Creator loves you greatly and blesses you abundantly. Therefore…always seek to praise God.”

Today we follow in the footsteps of St. Francis,
gathering together with the animals
entrusted to us by God,
and giving him praise.

We are reminded by our readings
how God has blessed this world
with an abundant and astounding variety
of creatures that fill every nook and cranny with life.

We recall that God has given this world
and all of its creatures to us
to care for, to protect, as stewards of his creation.

The Psalms, especially, remind us
that every part of God’s creation
lifts its voice to him in praise.
This is truly the joyful noise we make together
and raise to the ears of our Lord.

And in the Gospel, our Lord Jesus
turns our attention to the small creatures
and makes them into a sign and reminder
of God’s love and care for us.
He invites us to follow their lead
and to trust him each day and in all things.

And now we ask God
to pour out his blessings
upon all of his creatures,
no matter how many feet they have–
two or four or more–
no matter whether they are clothed
with skin or scales, feathers or fur.

Then together–beasts and people–we become a choir,
singing just as St. Francis wrote:
“All creatures of our God and King,
Lift up your voice with us and sing: Alleluia! Alleluia!”