Chapter twenty-one of John, in its concluding part, puts on the lips of Jesus the repeated verb "to shepherd" after the question asked to Peter: "Do you love me?" (Jn 21:15, 16); "Do you care for me?" (Jn 21:17).
Being a shepherd and shepherding the sheep of the flock had been for Francis the principal work of his singular journey.
This solicitous call always constituted for Francis the fundamental motive for his life.
In the Sources there are passages that well illustrate this vocation.
In the Major Legend in particular:
"Although he encouraged the brothers to an austere life with all his might, he disliked that intransigent severity which does not cover the heart of piety and is not seasoned with the salt of discretion.
One friar, due to excessive fasting, could not sleep at all one night, tormented as he was by hunger.
Realising the pitiful shepherd that his sheep was in danger, he called the friar, put some bread in front of him and, to prevent him from blushing, he began to eat first, while gently inviting the other to eat.
The friar cast off his shame and took food with great joy, for by his vigilance and condescension, the Father had spared him the harm of the body and given him cause for great edification.
In the morning, the man of God assembled the brothers and, referring to what had happened that night, added this providential admonition:
"To you, brothers, let not food but charity be an example".
He taught them, then, to always follow in the pursuit of virtue, the discretion that is its charioteer; not the discretion counselled by human wisdom, but that taught by Christ with his most holy life, which certainly is the declared model of perfection" (FF 1095).
Francis was a pastor of refined intuition, ready to educate with love and respect for others, starting with the smallest.
Friday of the 7th wk. of Easter (Jn 21:15-19)