The passage proposed by the Liturgy today highlights Jesus' wonderful discourse to his own on Love.
He begins by saying to abide in his love; and the concluding verse reiterates what was said earlier: to love one another.
Both Francis and Clare were consumed by the love of God, so much so that in the Sources we find remarkable passages on the subject.
The Major Legend narrates:
"Who could worthily describe the fervour of charity, which inflamed Francis, the Bridegroom's friend? For he, like a burning coal, seemed all consumed by the flame of divine love.
On hearing the name of the Lord's love, he immediately felt stimulated, struck, inflamed: that name was for him like a plectrum, which made the depths of his heart vibrate.
"To offer, in recompense for alms, the precious patrimony of the love of God," he affirmed, "is noble prodigality; and most foolish are those who esteem it less than money, since only the inappreciable price of divine love is capable of buying the kingdom of heaven. 'And much must we love the love of Him who loved us much' " (FF 1161).
Likewise Clare, in her third letter to Agnes of Prague, expressed herself thus:
"...it is now clear that the soul of the faithful man, who is the most worthy of all creatures, is made by the Grace of God greater than the heavens. While, in fact, the heavens with all other created things cannot contain the Creator, the faithful soul, on the other hand, and it alone, is his dwelling and abode, and this only by reason of charity, of which the ungodly are devoid. It is the Truth itself that affirms this:
"He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I also will love him; we will come to him and make our abode in him" " (FF 2892).
And again, regarding exchangeable love, in the Legend of the Three Companions:
"They occupied the day in prayer and working with their hands, so as to resolutely avoid idleness, the enemy of the soul. At midnight they rose for prayer, animated by groans and tears.
They loved one another with a deep affection, and served and provided for one another, 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 love of Christ, but also to save the souls or bodies of their brothers" (FF 1446).
The fraternity of the origins of Francis is the highest and most concrete testimony of what it means to remain in the Love of Gift and pour it into relationships with the brothers.
Eloquent facts call for authenticity in relationships, without using the truth to one's own advantage.
For it is clear that "he who does the truth comes towards the light, that his works may be made manifest, for they are done in God" (John 3:21).
«These things I command you, that you love one another» (Jn 15:17).
St Matthias, 14 May (Jn 15:9-17)
