Through the parable of the barren fig tree, Jesus calls us to conversion, to be trees that bear fruit: «He went [to see] if he could find anything on it, and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves» (Mk 11:13).
Francis, humble of heart and simple, offers us a thought-provoking episode in this regard.
“He used to say that preachers are to be pitied, for they often sell their ministry for a penny’s worth of vainglory.
And he would sometimes try to cure their conceit with this remedy:
«Why do you boast of the conversion of men, when it is my simple brothers who have converted them through their prayers?»
And indeed, he commented thus on the passage that says: «even the barren woman has borne many children»:
«The barren woman is my poor friar, who has no task of begetting children in the Church. But at the judgement he will have brought many to light, for on that day the judge will ascribe to his glory those whom he now converts through his personal prayers»” (FF 749).
And again:
«There are many friars who […] whilst preaching the Gospel to individuals and to the people, on seeing or hearing that some have been edified or converted to penance, become puffed up and swell with pride over results achieved through the labour of others.
In truth, those whom they delude themselves into thinking they have edified or converted to penance through their words, it is the Lord who edifies and converts them through the prayers of the holy friars, even if the latter are unaware of it: this is God’s will, that they should not realise it, lest they become proud.
‘These friars are my knights of the Round Table, who hide themselves in secluded and uninhabited places, to devote themselves with greater fervour to prayer and meditation, weeping over their own sins and those of others» (FF 1624).
The humble and daily conversion of the Minor and his friars has, over time, revolutionised every form of arrogant thinking, thanks to the Word of Christ.
Friday, 8th wk. in O.T. (Mk 11:11-25)
