Brothers and sisters, I humbly ask for your prayers:

There is a neighbor on our street (who once claimed that he was involved in the so called black-block-tactics at the G-20 in Toronto) who is trying to intimidate us by coming onto our property and letting us know he is 'around' ready to do things like burn down fencing (or perhaps the little hermitage God lets me use there?) It has something to do with pot plants that were being grown (without our knowledge) right at the back of our property. I cannot say that I know that these belonged to this man, but he made veiled threats about us having considered calling the police to remove them. The plants have been removed by someone, but this man is obviously suffering deep within, from what I don't know, but there seems to be an evil malaise there. Please pray for him.

Pray also that God grants me wisdom, restraint and the help I may need (perhaps in the form of an angel) to address this appropriately, in God's presence.

I will sit with this in prayer, Brother Carlo. The story of the "Wolf of Gubbio" connects here with me. Perhaps a lesson, an approach, an understanding, an invitation lies in that story. Pace e Bene! CJ

Thank you brother. Yes the wolf of Gubbio within me needs to be tamed, I will need a Francis (an alter Christus) to tame me, if I cannot be a Francis, if I cannot be Christ to my neighbour. As this is our Chapel for prayer and meditation let us pray and consider the wisdom of those who have gone before us:

O Christ, our True Friend, we call upon your name for mercy. Pray in us, for us and through us on behalf of others. May any blessing your inexhaustible, loving heart would pour on me, poor brother Carlo, for the whole year, may it instead go to the blessing of my neighbor. Bring healing to his heart and wholeness to the neighborhood. What you have already given us is sufficient, though not even a breath is ours and we cannot live but that you are present. Jesus, have mercy. Amen.

Seeking A Purer Christian Life: The Desert Mothers And Father (Nashville: Upper Room Books, c2000, p. 60):

Abba Zeno said, "If a man [or woman] wants God to hear his prayer quickly, then before he [she] prays for anything else, even his [her] own soul, when he [she] stands and stretches out his [her] hands in prayer toward God, he [she] must pray with all his heart for his enemies. Through this action God will hear everything that he [she] asks. [So let us be. Amen.]

May the Lord of peace give us peace is all ways and at all time.

Alleluia. Amen.

May peace abound, dear Brother, in your heart, from which all your deeds and words may flow. May you listen well to the fears of your restless neighbor, and help him take a drink of some of the sweet peace that comes from you and your praying.

Amen, Amen, Amen

Joining you in prayer, dear brother, for the peace and grace of God to be expressed through you to this neighbor (I am reminded of the story of the Good Samaritan..."who IS my neighbor?") Truly God has good in mind for both you, this man, and the neighborhood. May you be salt and Light abounding in love.