Jesus likened the generation he was dealing with to capricious children who judge badly whatever one does.

Francis was a disciple and prophet of Christ who bore concrete witness to God's wise work in him.

The Sources, teachers of Franciscan life at the service of the Word, offer countless episodes that encapsulate a synthesis of the Gospel.

In fact, after the Poor Man changed his life, the Wisdom that comes from above flooded him:

"In the midst of the despondency, into which the doctrine of the Gospel had fallen, not in particular but in general, because of the customs of those who taught it, the Providence of God sent this man into the world, that, like the apostles, he might be a witness to the truth, before all men. And truly he showed clearly, by word and example, how foolish earthly wisdom was, and in short, under the guidance of Christ, he led men, through the foolishness of preaching, to true divine wisdom.

In the face of the decadence of a society that, poor in values, mistook authentic prophets and Christ himself for "gluttons" or "drunkards", Francis is the 'sign of the times' that disproves every bogus idea about Jesus and his following.

St Bonaventure says in his Major Legend:

"He appeared to the friars, transfigured on a chariot of fire and as he made himself present, in the figure of a cross to the capitulars of Arles [...].

This marvellous appearance of his physical person in various places indicated [...] how his spirit was in perfect communion with the Light of eternal Wisdom, that Wisdom which is nobler than all motion and penetrates everywhere by its purity, communicates itself to holy souls and forms the friends of God and the prophets [...].

In fact, the exalted Doctor is inclined to reveal his mysteries to the simple and little ones, as we saw first in David [...] then in Peter [...] and finally in Francis, the poor man of Christ" (FF 1202).

Francis, the merchant, by selling and giving everything for the Lord Jesus, buys the Pearl of the evangelical life, now free from existential whims fruit of immaturity.

«Yet Wisdom has been recognised as righteous by her works» (Mt 11:19)

Friday, 2nd wk. in Advent  (Mt 11:16-19)

Jesus points out to the onlookers who John the Baptist is and how in the Kingdom of God the least is greater than he.

Indeed, Holy Scripture reveals how Wisdom from on high forms friends of God and prophets.

Since the Kingdom of heaven (the Community, the Church) suffers violence, Francis advised his brothers not to strike back blow after blow.

He advised the poverty of Christ, the poverty that possesses nothing and makes itself last in all circumstances.

"The brothers should not appropriate anything [...] and as pilgrims and strangers in this world, serving the Lord in poverty and humility, they should go for alms with confidence [...] This is the sublimity of the highest poverty, that which has constituted you, my dearest brothers, heirs and kings of the kingdom of heaven [...] this be your share of the inheritance, that which leads to the land of the living" (FF 90 - Regola bollata 1223).

Being minimal and in the last place - never scapricciarsi e vol volere prevaricare - was in Francis the most evident component of the friar minor, the richness of being minimal for the Kingdom.

In fact, he recommended his sons to respect and consider even the thoughts of the least in the community, because, he said, the Lord often speaks and reveals himself to the little ones, to those who apparently have no voice.

And since he well remembered that in heaven the smallest is greater than John the Baptist, he highly valued minority: a golden figure for the Kingdom.

In the Sources: "In different parts of the world it happened to them to be covered with insults, as despicable and unknown persons; but the love of the Gospel had made them so patient, that they themselves went to seek out the places where they knew they would be persecuted and avoided those where their holiness was known and they would find, therefore, honours and sympathy. 

Scarcity itself was for them abundance and superabundance, while, according to the advice of the Wise Man, they took pleasure not in greatness but in the smallest things" (FF 1075).

«Verily I say unto you, there hath not arisen among the born of women one greater than John the Baptist, but the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. Now from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence and the violent ones take it away» (Mt 11:11-12)

Thursday 2nd wk. in Advent  (Mt 11:11-15)

Jesus calls His own to meekness and humility of heart as a place of refreshment from all toil, learning from Him.

Regarding the meekness of God, in the writings of the Poor Man of Assisi (Praises of God Most High) we find this wonderful expression

"You are humility [...] You are beauty. You are meekness' (FF 261).

Francis, Alter Christus, was indeed a meek man and everything that reminded him of the meekness of Jesus he looked upon and revered with great respect and scruple.

Thomas of Celano himself, one of his main biographers, describes Francis thus:

"How beautiful, stupendous and glorious he was in his innocence, in the simplicity of his words [...] Of mild character, of a calm disposition, affable in speech, cautious in admonition" (FF 464).

For his eye ailment, in front of the surgeon who red-hot iron to cauterize the diseased part, Francis thus addressed "friar focu":

"The Father, to comfort the body already shaken by terror, thus speaks to the fire:

"Brother Fire, of enviable beauty among all creatures, the Most High has created you vigorous, beautiful and useful. Be propitious to me in this hour, be gracious! For long have I loved thee in the Lord. I pray to the great Lord, who created you, to temper your heat now so that I can bear it, if you burn me with gentleness'.

Having finished his prayer, he draws a sign of the cross on the fire and then waits intrepidly. The saint offers himself ready and smiling to the iron.

The friars present, horrified and trembling, departed. Back they were, after the operation, Francis addressed them:

"Pusillanimous and of little courage, why have you fled? Verily I say unto you, I felt neither the ardour of fire nor any pain of the flesh".

And addressed to the physician:

"If the flesh is not well cauterized, it will burn again".

To the amazement of the latter who, turning to the brothers, said: "I tell you, brothers, that today I have seen wondrous things" (FF 752).

And Clare, in her Testament, recommends to the sisters, first and foremost to those who preside over the community, the attitude and style of the Gospel:

"Let her still be so affable and within the reach of all, that the sisters may confidently manifest their needs to her and have recourse to her at every hour with confidence, as they think best, for themselves or for the benefit of the sisters" (FF 2848).

These two Giants of the Gospel were nourished by humility and meekness, finding in them their defence.

«Learn from me, who am meek and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your lives» (Mt 11:29)

Wednesday 2nd wk. in Advent  (Mt 11:28-30)