Sermon Notes: October 4, 2026

Paws, Peace, and Presence - Rev. Sheryl Padgett, DDiv

Paws, Peace, and Presence
The Spirit of St. Francis — Sermon Notes
Our animal companions teach us many things: unconditional love, patience, responsibility, joy, and sometimes the humbling truth that hearing their name does not necessarily mean they intend to come. Perhaps their greatest lesson, however, is presence. Animals invite us out of the worries of yesterday and tomorrow and into the sacred gift of this moment.
St. Francis of Assisi understood this deeply. More than 800 years ago, he recognized all creation as one sacred family. He spoke of Brother Sun, Sister Moon, Brother Fire, Sister Water, and Mother Earth. Francis did not simply admire nature; he experienced the Divine Presence shining through it. His spirituality calls us to look beyond the ordinary and see God everywhere—in the sunrise, the trees, the birds, one another, and the animals who share our lives.
The story of the Wolf of Gubbio captures this spirit. While others saw a dangerous creature and wanted it removed, Francis called it “Brother Wolf.” He looked beyond fear and behavior to recognize need and relationship. Whether understood as history, legend, or spiritual teaching, the story invites us to see beyond appearances. Where the human mind sees separation, Spirit sees connection. Where fear sees an enemy, love asks, “What is needed here?”
Our pets often help us practice this awareness. A dog does not spend the day regretting last Tuesday. A cat does not lie awake worrying about career decisions. Animals live in the present. When we sit quietly with them, pet them, walk them, or simply watch them rest, they remind us to pause. For a moment, we stop rehearsing the past and planning the future. Presence meets presence, and love happens.
Animals also reveal the unconditional nature of love. They do not care about our income, our accomplishments, our appearance, or whether we completed everything on the to-do list. They offer companionship, comfort, laughter, and loyalty. They sit beside us when we are grieving. They greet us when we come home. They teach us that sometimes love does not need advice or answers—it simply stays.
St. Francis reminds us that spirituality is not about escaping the world. It is about becoming awake enough to recognize God within it. Even near the end of his life, while suffering illness and failing eyesight, Francis sang praise through his Canticle of the Creatures. He remained aware that he belonged to something larger than his pain: the great, sacred web of life.
As we bless our animals, we also give thanks for the blessings they have already brought to us:
•       Love, laughter, companionship, and comfort
•       Patience, responsibility, playfulness, and rest
•       A reminder to live in the present moment
•       An expanded heart and a deeper capacity to care
•       A living connection with the beauty and mystery of creation
This week, practice Paws, Peace, and Presence:
•       Pause long enough to notice the life around you
•       Choose peace whenever possible
•       Practice presence with the people, animals, and natural world entrusted to your care
When we become truly present, we discover what St. Francis knew: we are surrounded by God. Sometimes that Divine Love comes through sunlight and birdsong; sometimes it appears in a friend’s kindness; and sometimes God comes running toward us on four paws.

Affirmation
I am one with God and one with all creation. I see Divine Life everywhere. I choose peace, practice presence, and open my heart to love. I bless all creatures, and I am blessed by them. And so it is. Amen.