Who Is a Disciple of Christ? (Part 1)
The sermon explores the life and teachings of St. Francis, emphasizing the importance of living a life of love, kindness, and selflessness.
K.P. Yohannan explores the essence of being a disciple of Christ through the life of St. Francis, who exemplified love and kindness without uttering a word. St. Francis's actions, such as feeding the hungry and freeing trapped birds, demonstrated divine love that left a lasting impact on those he encountered. He prayed to be an instrument of peace, emphasizing the importance of selflessness and the need to let go of personal desires and attachments. This 'death to self' is a continuous journey for disciples, where true life is found in serving others and embodying Christ's love. The sermon encourages believers to reflect on their own lives and the ways they can live out their faith through actions of love and service.
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In her article, Speech without Words, Elizabeth Patten Moss narrates an incident: "Once St. Francis went to talk to the people. Instead of using words, he spoke through a smile of love and kindness to all those who came his way. He bought food for a person who was starving. He freed some birds that were trapped in a bush. He met a boy who lost his way and helped him to reach his house. In all the paths he traveled, people could not forget one thing: that is the divine love which they experienced in St.
Francis." church-191406_640 The life of St. Francis is a model to others. Once he prayed like this: "Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace; Where there is hatred, let me sow love; Where there is injury, pardon; Where there is error, truth; Where there is doubt, faith; Where there is despair, hope; Where there is darkness, light; And 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." The death which St. Francis mentions here is not the moment when we leave everything behind us at the end of our life. It is the stage when we leave our self: "me, mine, my life, my wife, my children, my future, my possessions". It is when we leave the thoughts and work which are based on self. St. Francis speaks about a death that we must embrace throughout our life, leaving the self behind us. He wishes for such a death.
Sermon Outline
- I. Introduction to St. Francis' life and model
- II. The power of love and kindness in action
- III. The prayer of St. Francis: an instrument of peace
- IV. The death of self: leaving behind the 'me' mentality
- V. Embracing a life of selflessness and sacrifice
Key Quotes
“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.” — K.P. Yohannan
“Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is error, truth; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy.” — K.P. Yohannan
Application Points
- Seek to live a life of selflessness and sacrifice, putting the needs of others before your own.
- Practice the prayer of St. Francis, seeking to sow love, pardon, truth, faith, hope, light, and joy in the lives of those around you.
- Let go of your own desires and attachments, and be willing to 'die to self' in order to live a more authentic and meaningful life.