Seeing the large crowd following him, Jesus emphasises the need to pray for more workers in his harvest to announce the Kingdom and heal the sick, in the sign of gratuity.
In the Sources we find different passages referring to the proclamation of the Kingdom of God and its Gratuity by Francis and his brothers. We read in fact:
"His speeches were not vain, but filled with the power of the Holy Spirit: they penetrated to the depths of the heart and aroused great amazement in his listeners.
In each of his sermons, at the beginning of the discourses, he greeted the people with the greeting of peace, saying: «May the Lord give you peace!»
He had learnt this form of greeting by revelation from the Lord.
Like the prophets, he announced peace, he preached salvation' (FF 1052).
But it is surprising to find episodes that highlight his naked gratuitousness, received and returned.
"Francis, a man of God, naked of the things of the world, consecrated himself to divine worship and, no longer minding his own advantage, committed himself to serving God in every possible way.
On his way back to the church of St Damian, he began to walk through squares and streets, raising praises to the Lord.
As he finished his praises, he worked to obtain the stones needed to restore the church.
He said: «Whoever gives me one stone will have one reward; whoever gives me two stones, two rewards; whoever gives me three, as many rewards!» (FF 1420).
Moreover: "One winter morning, while he was praying covered in miserable garments, his carnal brother, passing by him, remarked ironically addressing a fellow citizen:
Tell Francis to sell you at least a penny of his sweat!".
The man of God, hearing the mocking words, was seized with superhuman joy and replied in French:
«I will sell this sweat, and very dearly, to my Lord» (FF 1424).
Saturday 1st wk. in Advent (Mt 9,35-38-10,1.6-8)
