Feb 18, 2026 Written by 

Knock: it will be opened to you!

The Matthew passage emphasises the goodness of the Father, who does not give a stone to the son who asks for bread. Then here is the golden rule: what one wants for oneself, it is good to do for others.

For Francis of Assisi, giving to those in need was a law of life. This verb, 'to give', was often replaced by another typically Franciscan one: 'to give back'.

For him, handing over his cloak to a poor man who knocked on the door of his heart meant giving back what he had lent.

On the other hand, as the Gospel says, what we wish to be done to us, we must also do to our neighbour (cf. Mt 7:12).

At the same time, he considered it important and a sign of humility to know how to ask.

After his change of life, obeying the voice of the Crucifix of San Damiano and overcoming himself, he gave himself to countless labours.

The Sources narrate:

"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 way possible.

Returning to the church of St Damian, all happy and fervent, he put on a hermit's habit and comforted the priest of that church with the same words of encouragement addressed to him by the bishop.

Then, returning to the city, he began to walk through squares and streets, raising praises to the Lord with an inebriated soul.

As he finished his praises, he worked to obtain the stones needed to restore the church. He would say:

«Whoever gives me one stone, will have one reward; whoever gives me two stones, two rewards; whoever gives me three, as many rewards!».

With ardent enthusiasm he made this and similar appeals full of naivety, for this chosen one of God had a candid and childlike soul, he did not resort to the learned language of human wisdom, but was simple and immediate in everything" (FF 1420).

According to the Poverello, begging for the love of God was the noblest and most dignified gesture before the Lord and the world.

"And indeed, everything the heavenly Father has created for the benefit of mankind, he continues to give to us gratuitously even after sin, to the worthy as well as the unworthy, out of love for his beloved Son" (FF 1610).

 

«Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened to you» (Mt 7:7)

 

 

Thursday 1st wk. in Lent  (Mt 7,7-12)

695 Last modified on Wednesday, 18 February 2026 03:59
Teresa Girolami

Teresa Girolami è laureata in Materie letterarie e Teologia. Ha pubblicato vari testi, fra cui: "Pellegrinaggio del cuore" (Ed. Piemme); "I Fiammiferi di Maria - La Madre di Dio in prosa e poesia"; "Tenerezza Scalza - Natura di donna"; co-autrice di "Dialogo e Solstizio".

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There is the path of those who, like those two on the outbound journey, allow themselves to be paralysed by life’s disappointments and proceed sadly; and there is the path of those who do not put themselves and their problems first, but rather Jesus who visits us, and the brothers who await his visit (Pope Francis)
C’è la via di chi, come quei due all’andata, si lascia paralizzare dalle delusioni della vita e va avanti triste; e c’è la via di chi non mette al primo posto se stesso e i suoi problemi, ma Gesù che ci visita, e i fratelli che attendono la sua visita (Papa Francesco)
So that Christians may properly carry out this mandate entrusted to them, it is indispensable that they have a personal encounter with Christ, crucified and risen, and let the power of his love transform them. When this happens, sadness changes to joy and fear gives way to missionary enthusiasm (John Paul II)
Perché i cristiani possano compiere appieno questo mandato loro affidato, è indispensabile che incontrino personalmente il Crocifisso risorto, e si lascino trasformare dalla potenza del suo amore. Quando questo avviene, la tristezza si muta in gioia, il timore cede il passo all’ardore missionario (Giovanni Paolo II)
This is the message that Christians are called to spread to the very ends of the earth. The Christian faith, as we know, is not born from the acceptance of a doctrine but from an encounter with a Person (Pope Benedict)
È questo il messaggio che i cristiani sono chiamati a diffondere sino agli estremi confini del mondo. La fede cristiana come sappiamo nasce non dall'accoglienza di una dottrina, ma dall'incontro con una Persona (Papa Benedetto)
From ancient times the liturgy of Easter day has begun with the words: Resurrexi et adhuc tecum sum – I arose, and am still with you; you have set your hand upon me. The liturgy sees these as the first words spoken by the Son to the Father after his resurrection, after his return from the night of death into the world of the living. The hand of the Father upheld him even on that night, and thus he could rise again (Pope Benedict)
Dai tempi più antichi la liturgia del giorno di Pasqua comincia con le parole: Resurrexi et adhuc tecum sum – sono risorto e sono sempre con te; tu hai posto su di me la tua mano. La liturgia vi vede la prima parola del Figlio rivolta al Padre dopo la risurrezione, dopo il ritorno dalla notte della morte nel mondo dei viventi. La mano del Padre lo ha sorretto anche in questa notte, e così Egli ha potuto rialzarsi, risorgere (Papa Benedetto)
The Church keeps watch. And the world keeps watch. The hour of Christ's victory over death is the greatest hour in history (John Paul II)
Veglia la Chiesa. E veglia il mondo. L’ora della vittoria di Cristo sulla morte è l’ora più grande della storia (Giovanni Paolo II)
Before the Cross of Jesus, we apprehend in a way that we can almost touch with our hands how much we are eternally loved; before the Cross we feel that we are “children” and not “things” or “objects” [Pope Francis, via Crucis at the Colosseum 2014]
Di fronte alla Croce di Gesù, vediamo quasi fino a toccare con le mani quanto siamo amati eternamente; di fronte alla Croce ci sentiamo “figli” e non “cose” o “oggetti” [Papa Francesco, via Crucis al Colosseo 2014]
The devotional and external purifications purify man ritually but leave him as he is replaced by a new bathing (Pope Benedict)

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