The few lines of today's Gospel are dedicated to the new work of the unrecognised like Jesus, who prepare the ways of the Lord.
Undoubtedly Francis of Assisi, at that time, extendable to our days, brought a remarkable breath of evangelical novelty.
Jesus himself had asked him: Renew my Church which is in ruins!
With his simplicity and humility, united with Lady Poverty, he had revolutionised civil and religious life with the parameters of the Gospel, like Elijah redivivus.
We read in the Sources passages that emphasise this physiognomy and development:
"Like the morning star, appearing in the midst of the clouds, with the brightest rays of his life and doctrine he drew to the light those who lay in the shadow of death.
As a rainbow shining among the bright clouds, bearing within himself the sign of the covenant with the Lord, he proclaimed to men the Gospel of Peace and salvation.
An Angel of true Peace, he too, in imitation of the Precursor, was predestined by God to prepare the way in the desert of the highest poverty and to preach penance by example and word.
Precipitated at first by the gifts of heavenly Grace [...] he rose, then, by the merits of an ever victorious virtue; he was also filled with a prophetic spirit [...].
He was filled with the ardent love of the seraphim, until, having become similar to the angelic hierarchies, he was taken up to heaven by a chariot of fire.
It is thus rationally demonstrated that he was sent among us with the spirit and power of Elijah [...]" (FF 1021 - Major Legend).
"Certainly, Elijah comes and will restore all things. But I say to you, Elijah has already come and they have not recognised him" (Mt 17:11-12).
Saturday 2nd wk. Advent (Mt 17:10-13)