Given that yesterday was the Feast of St. Francis, I’d like to start with a short reflection about St. Francis taken from the writings of Fr. Richard Rohr:
God cannot be found “out there” until God is first found “in here,” within ourselves. Then we can almost naturally see God in others and in all creation too. What we seek is what we are. The search for God and the search for our true self are finally the same search. Francis’s all-night prayer, “Who are you, O God, and who am I?” is one of the most honest prayers we can offer.
A heart transformed by this realization of oneness knows that only love “in here” can spot and enjoy love “out there.” Only when we are eager to love can we see love and goodness in the world around us. We must ourselves remain in peace and then we will see and find peace over there. Remain in beauty, and we will honor beauty everywhere.
Gracious and Loving God,
Thank you for bringing us together this evening to celebrate with gratitude over one hundred years of Commonweal. We give thanks for the many ways Commonweal serves as a vehicle for thoughtful dialogue, a voice for conscience, and a beacon of hope—always seeking to illuminate the intersections of faith and public life, and serving as an insightful companion as we seek the love “in here” so we can see the love “out there.”
We ask for your continued blessing upon Commonweal, its writers, editors, readers, and supporters, who are united in a commitment to the common good. May Commonweal continue to inform, challenge, and inspire us on the most important issues of our time, and in doing so, help us grow in our desire to serve you.
We give you special thanks tonight for our honoree, a beloved friend and inspiration to many, Father John Jenkins. We thank you for his decades of visionary leadership at the University of Notre Dame and for his faith-filled and steady guidance as a shepherd and scholar. May his example of compassion and courage, and his deep dedication to Catholic higher education continue to inspire future generations of educators and leaders. May we always pursue truth as vigorously as he does, while also demonstrating the same charity he shows toward our companions in this search. As he receives the Centennial Award, we pray that you continue to bless him with wisdom, joy, and peace.
Bless the food we are about to share and those who prepared it, bless the fellowship and friendship around these tables and the conversations that will inspire us. Keep us mindful always of those who go without this night. May all that we do here give glory to you and renew our dedication to serving one another in love.
Amen.
