Addressing Peter, Jesus asks him to follow him [«Me, Follow» Jn 21:22] instead of worrying about the future of the beloved disciple.
Following is a theme strongly felt by Francis - in the first person, for his brothers, and not only.
In fact he founded no less than three Orders, because of his extraordinary desire to follow and have others follow in Christ's footsteps; religious or lay, so much so that, inflamed, he repeated:
"I want to send you all to Paradise".
The Sources, a travel tool in the Franciscan journey, give interesting passages on this subject.
"Some began to feel invited to do penance by his example and to join him, in dress and in life, leaving everything behind.
The first of them was the "venerable Bernard", who, having been made partaker of the divine vocation, deserved to be the first-born son of the blessed father, first in time and holiness.
Bernard, having witnessed for himself the holiness of Christ's servant, decided to follow his example, abandoning the world completely. Therefore he turned to him, to know how to realise this intention" (FF 1053).
Crowds followed Jesus, but many souls also followed the poor disciple of Assisi.
In fact, in the Fioretti, an episode is narrated in which Brother Masseo, wanting to prove the saint's humility, asked Francis why the whole world should go after him. The Poor Man began thus:
"[...] Saint Francis replies:
"Which is what you mean?"
Brother Masseo said:
"I say, why is the whole world directed to you, and every person seems to desire to see you and hear you and obey you? Thou art not a handsome man of the body, thou art not of great learning, thou art not noble; whence then to thee should all the world come after thee?".
Hearing this holy Francis, all joyful in spirit, raising his face to heaven, for a long time he remained with his mind lifted up in God; and then returning to himself, he knelt down and gave praise and grace to God; and then with great fervour of spirit he turned to Brother Masseo and said
"Do you want to know why all the world comes after me? [...] those most holy eyes have seen no one among sinners more vile, nor more insufficient, nor greater sinner than I [...] and therefore to do that marvellous operation, which he intends to do, he has not found a more vile creature on earth; and therefore he has chosen me to confound the nobility and greatness and the strength and beauty and wisdom of the world, so that it may be known that all virtue and all good is from him" (FF 1838).
And in Clare's Spiritual Testament we read:
"Among the other benefits, which we have received and daily receive from our Giver, the Father of mercies, for which we are greatly bound to render to Him glorious living graces, great is that of our vocation. And the greater and more perfect it is, the more we are obliged to him" (FF 2823).
All the rest, in the life of Clare as in that of Francis, is nothing but the response of the Spirit, who guides both on the same path, in the footsteps of Christ, marvelling.
Saturday of the 7th wk in Easter (Jn 21:20-25)
