Faced with people who mistook him for John the Baptist, Elijah or one of the prophets,

Jesus asked his disciples:

«But who do you say that I Am?» (Mt 16:15).

And Peter made his marvellous profession of faith.

Francis of Assisi, a man of unshakeable faith, Herald of the Great King, often spoke to his friars of the sufferings endured by Christ, of his Passion, for which he wept profusely.

He bore witness to his faith in Jesus, the Son of God, with great fervour.

Indeed, “he taught them […] to confess openly the truth of the faith, just as the Holy Roman Church holds and teaches it.

They observed the teachings of their holy father in every respect, and as soon as they caught sight of a church from afar, or a cross, they would turn towards it, prostrating themselves humbly on the ground and praying in the manner he had shown them” (FF 1069).

The Sources instruct us on this matter:

“He meditated continually on the words of the Lord and never lost sight of his works.

But above all, the humility of the Incarnation and the charity of the Passion were so deeply imprinted on his memory that he could scarcely think of anything else” (FF 467).

And in his writings:

“To him who suffered so much for us, who has bestowed so many blessings upon us and will bestow them upon us in the future […] He who alone is good, alone most high, alone almighty, admirable […] worthy of praise and blessed for ever and ever. Amen” (FF 202).

Again: “The compassion of the Crucified One was fixed in his holy soul and […] the venerable stigmata of the Passion, though not yet in the flesh, were deeply imprinted upon his heart […] and he could no longer hold back his tears, weeping aloud at the Passion of Christ, which was ever before his eyes. He fills the streets with groans, refusing to be consoled at the memory of Christ’s wounds.

One day, he met a close friend of his, and having explained the cause of his grief, the friend too immediately burst into bitter tears” (FF 594).

The thought that Jesus had to suffer so much tormented him, making him deeply aware of this Mystery day and night.

To him too, as to Peter, Christ gave the keys: those of the Franciscan Order, skilfully trained in evangelical witness.

21st Sunday in Ordinary Time, year A  (Mt 16:13–20)