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
