In today's Gospel Jesus teaches his disciples about humility and greatness in service.
He who wants to become great will be first in service. Compared to the imperial criterion, the evangelical criterion is quite different - it elevates those who make themselves last and do not dominate.
Thanks to the light received from the Spirit, Francis and Clare had learnt to incarnate the Word of God on a daily basis.
The target of their action was Christ to be recognised and served in the brothers or sisters, but also to be helped in those who knocked on the door or met along the way.
The children of the kingdom of heaven do not rule, but humbly serve their neighbour.
Jesus' disciples do not aspire to prestigious positions, but to conform to the identikit outlined in the Beatitudes.
Hence the active understanding of what the Sources propose.
"They [the brothers] occupied the day in prayer and working with their hands, so as to resolutely avoid idleness, the enemy of the soul [...].
They loved each other with a deep affection, and served and provided for each other as a mother would do with her only tenderly loved child.
Such was the affection that burned in their hearts, that they were ready to give themselves up to death without hesitation, not only for the love of Christ, but also to save the souls or bodies of their brethren" (FF 1446).
"As the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve and to give his life, a ransom for many" (Mt 20:28).
And Clare herself, enclosed within Damianite walls, offered in simplicity to her sisters the witness of all-round service.
"From then on she no longer refused any servile duties, to the point that she was the one who poured water over the sisters' hands, stood to assist them while they sat and served them at table while they ate.
She hardly gave any orders: but she did it herself spontaneously, preferring to carry them out herself rather than command her sisters" (FF 3180).
"She washed the seats of the infirm, she cleansed them herself, with that noble spirit of hers, without shying away from filthiness or disgusting the stench" (FF 3181).
The Minim and the Poor Woman of San Damiano had received as a gift a pure heart, inflamed by Charity, at the service of the Kingdom.
Looking to Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of the law, they had acquired His physiognomy as fraternal servants, to redeem the multitudes.
St James the Apostle (Mt 20:20-28)
