# In All Things, Love: Guided by the Greatest Force
*2015-10-04*

> Bill Young reflects on the feast of St. Francis of Assisi and Pope Francis’ call to care for our common home, urging listeners to let love— for the earth, for one another, and for God—guide their actions.

## A Feast Day Reminder

Good morning, I’m Bill Young. Today, October 4th, we celebrate the feast of St. Francis of Assisi. It’s fitting that we continue Day 9 of our walk with Pope Francis in his 30‑day journey for the care of our common home.

## Love as the Greatest Force

The day’s theme is “In All Things, Love—let us be guided by the most powerful force in the universe: love.” God created the heavens and the earth as a home for us, and He entrusted us with its care. Our present global crisis stems from ignorance, greed, and the quest for power. Pope Francis reminds us that love— love for the earth, love for one another, and love for God who gave it all— is greater than any of those forces. It is not too late to learn how to express that love in caring for everything we have received.

## A Prayer of Awe

Prayer: “God of creation, when I stop to consider all you have made, it takes my breath away. Help me to take the time to praise you more often. Amen.”

## St. Francis and the Way of Love

St. Francis of Assisi embodied love: love for nature, love for animals, and love for all people in God’s creation. He shows us how to extend the love we feel for our own families to the whole of creation.

*Let love be the guiding force that moves us to protect and cherish God’s creation.*