Becoming Instruments of Peace

Dear Friend,

Peace and all good be yours!

With the readings for this Sunday directing us to the matter of shepherding, I couldn’t help but think of the image of “herding cats,” a descriptor often used by those in leadership of the friars. Then again, we do have an actual cat, Fritzy, here on the premises of the Mission. Father John oversees her care and has been involved in numerous search and rescue expeditions when Fritzy goes missing, not to mention all the trips to the vet, as Fritzy has taken full advantage of her now 9 (plus) lives…

Returning to the friar front, “shepherding” has become an immediate task for Brother Massimo Fusarelli OFM, who was elected last week by his friar brothers gathered in Italy to serve as the “121st successor of St. Francis” in the role of Minister General of the OFM Franciscans worldwide. It is a six-year term, which, with God’s help, will not involve many search and rescue missions…   

For Massimo, and for anyone involved in leadership and shepherding, the experience of St. Paul is always instructive. His words from the Letter to the Ephesians for this Sunday show how adept he is at placing his responsibilities in the larger vision he has of the work of God through Christ. It is a responsibility of reconciliation – of welcoming, and linking disparate groups, in his case Gentiles and Jews of the early church. It is a ministry of “peace-making” in the most profound sense. 

Mission Santa Barbara and St. Barbara parish are uniquely situated to offer the community a “gathering place” for visitors and pilgrims who come to us from numerous places for countless reasons. As we keep our Brother Massimo in our prayers, let’s all take up the task of becoming instruments of peace in this holy and very public place here in Santa Barbara.

Gratefully,

Fr. Dan ofm, Pastor