St Christopher’s Cathedral in Bahrain held its first Pet Service on Friday (4 October), the day commemorating Francis of Assisi. The congregation was pleased to welcome people from outside the church for the service led by Cathedral Dean the Very Reverend Dr Richard Fermer, who offered a reflection (below) that had something to say about the search for peace amidst regional strife in the Middle East. (Click image below to read article about the service, published in Gulf Daily News.)

REFLECTION 
4^th October 2024
Commemoration of Francis of Assisi
The Very Reverend Dr Richard Fermer
Dean of St Christopher’s Cathedral

(Words in bold are questions posed to the children in the congregation)

We know that the animals, who we call “pets”, came originally from wild animals. But they are pets because of the relationship that human beings have developed with them throughout history.
I’m going to tell you the story of a wild animal, a wolf.

Now this fierce wolf had been terrorising the townsfolk of Gubbio. Francis of Assisi goes out to meet the wolf. Seeing him far off, the wolf comes charging at the saint growling, ready to attack. What would you do in a situation like that?

What did Francis do? He said a prayer. He invoked the name of Jesus and asked Jesus for help and afterwards invited the wolf to him: “Come here, Brother Wolf.” What does that show? Francis’ courage, but also his faith. He trusted in God to help and provide. I wonder if we do that when we meet something that fills us with fear?

Animals are very sensitive, perhaps more sensitive at times than we are. What do you think the wolf picked up from Francis? Did he find Francis a threat? No, the wolf sensed Francis’ calm and peace. You see the peace that comes from God creates harmony between all things. Did you notice what Francis says: “Brother Wolf”. It says that the wolf is part of Francis’ family, because he is also part of God’s family, God’s creation, a being of value to love and respect. Francis calls all created things “Brother”, or “Sister”. Compare that with the attitude of people who abandon their pets in Bahrain, causing roaming packs of dogs and feral cats, or those who abuse or kill animals.

So what happens next? The wolf comes and lies down at the feet of Francis. Usually wolves do not live alone, right? They are part of a pack. Francis realises that this wolf is alone and that means that life is more difficult and food harder to hunt. In short, Francis recognises the wolf’s needs: he is on his own and hungry.

And so, Francis decides to try and make peace between the wolf and townspeople. He takes the wolf to them and says to them that if they agree to feed the wolf, the wolf will no longer attack them. The people want a sign that the wolf will comply. What does the wolf do? Lifts up its right paw and places it in the hand of Francis. You’ll see in this painting I’ve projected, from the Middle Ages that Francis is shown with one hand taking the wolf’s paw and with another taking the hands of the townsfolk. He connects past enemies. He’s a peace-maker.

The story tells us two things:

• Jesus came to bring about the Kingdom of God, which brings everything into harmony and peace with God. What happens to the wolf is a glimpse of what will come, but also what can happen when we follow in Jesus’ way. Listen to these words from the Prophet Isaiah (11.6), foretelling the Kingdom:
  “Then wolves will live in peace with lambs, and leopards will lie down to rest with goats.

Calves, lions, and young bulls will eat together, and a little child will lead them.”

• Of course, our world does not always feel like a glimpse into the Kingdom. Look at the war that is happening in our region of the Middle East. But the story also says something about how we can help to bring about peace. Like Francis we need to reach out to others, and get people to talk or communicate with each other. We need to connect people to each other in peace-making. In our reaching out, we need, like the animals to be sensitive, sensitive to the needs of others, because an animal’s needs, whether human or non-human, is often what is causing the bad or violent behaviour in the first place. When we can speak to those needs and get two opposed sides to think about each other, then through God’s grace, we can achieve peace and truly call each other “brother” and “sister”, fellow creatures of God’s good creation. Were you expecting a pet service to teach us a lesson of peace?