PEACEABLE KINGDOM

Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar came across an old van that had been abandoned in the mud and decided to give their camels a rest from carrying them to Bethlehem and following the star.  Besides, they were cold from giving up their hair.  They found peace in their hearts again by staying their minds on God and his future kingdom.  Balthazar started to get a headache, luckily there were so many animals he could apply John Wesley’s remedy: “Hold a live puppy constantly on the belly.” (John Wesley)  

SCRIPTURE

The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.  The cow and the bear shall graze; their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.  The nursing child shall play by the cobra’s hole, and the weaned child shall put his hand in the viper’s den.  They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. (Isaiah 11:6-9)

FOOLISH WISDOM

When Caspar got into the van, he found himself sitting next to a young man who was obviously a hippie.  He had long hair, beads, bell bottoms, and was wearing only one shoe.  “Son,” said Caspar, “You’ve evidently lost a shoe.”  “No, man” came the reply, “I found one.” (adapted from Anthony DeMello)

PRAYER

Pray the peace prayer of another foolish wise man who loved animals.  He washed lepers, preached the gospel to the birds, and made a wolf in Gubbio repent of eating sheep -is that him in the picture?  He was kind of a hippie too.

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace:

Where there is hatred, let me so love;

where there is injury, pardon;

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

where there is sadness, joy.

O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console,

to be understood as to understand,

to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive,

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

-Saint Francis of Assisi