Jesus announces his death and resurrection to his own. He teaches his own humility and minority by paying the temple tax.
The first biographer of St Francis, Thomas of Celano, in the Vita Seconda, narrates the meeting that took place between Dominic and Francis at the home of Cardinal Ugolino, later Pope Gregory IX, probably between the end of 1219 and the beginning of 1221.
The Cardinal himself was deeply moved by hearing the dialogue between
two saints, who spoke of God with such gentleness and humility, servants of God in an original way, both living the Paschal mystery.
"They found themselves together in Rome, in the house of Cardinal d'Ostia who was later Supreme Pontiff, the shining lights of the world St Francis and St Dominic.
Hearing them speak so sweetly to each other about the Lord, at the end the bishop said:
"In the early Church the pastors were poor and people of charity, without greed. Why,' he asked, 'among your brothers those who stand out for doctrine and good example, do you not make them bishops and prelates?'
A contest arose between the two saints, not to precede each other in reply, but because one proposed the honour to the other and even wanted to force him to speak first. They actually outdid each other in the veneration they nurtured for each other.
In the end, humility won out in Francis, because he did not step forward, and it also won out in Dominic, because he humbly obeyed and answered first.
So Dominic said to the bishop:
"Lord, my brothers, if they understand this, are already placed in high rank, and as far as I am concerned I will not allow them to obtain any other dignity".
After this brief and convinced reply, Francis bowed to the bishop and said in turn:
"Lord, my brothers have been called Minors precisely for this reason, so that they will not presume to become majors.
The very name teaches them to remain lowly and to follow in the footsteps of Christ's humility, so that in the end they may be raised above others in the presence of the saints.
If you want them to bear fruit in the Church of God,' he continued, 'keep them and preserve them in the state of their vocation, and bring them down even against their will.
For this, Father, I beseech you: that they may not be as proud as they are poor and may not show themselves arrogant towards others, do not in any way allow them to obtain offices'.
These were the answers of the Saints' (FF 732).
Wisdom and humility following Christ, free children of the Kingdom.
"Now when they were gathered together in Galilee, Jesus said to them: The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise again - And they were greatly grieved" (Mt 17:22).
Monday of the 19th wk. in O.T. (Mt 17,22-27)
