To the scribes who ask what is the great commandment Jesus answers in a disconcerting way: Listen! Loving God and neighbour with all one's self is worth more than a thousand sacrifices!
To the scribe, who had understood all this, Jesus points out that he is not far from the Kingdom of God.
The life of Francis of Assisi is full of singular episodes that testify to the breadth of a new heart, marked by Love.
At the beginning of their community life, the brothers lived at Rivotorto, 3 km from the Portiuncula.
Here is what happened one night:
"One night, one of those sheep, while the others were sleeping, began to cry out, "I am dying, brothers, I am starving!"
The wise shepherd immediately got up and hastened to bring appropriate help to the infirm sheep.
He ordered the table to be prepared, even if it was with simple food [...].
It was he who began to eat first and invited the other brothers to that duty of charity, so that the poor man would not blush.
Having taken the food with the fear of the Lord, so that the act of charity might be complete, the Father gave his sons a long discourse on the virtue of discretion.
He warned them to always offer God a sacrifice seasoned with prudence, cautioning them to take their own strength into account in divine service [...].
Then he added:
"Beloved, what I have done in eating, know that it was done not out of greed, but out of dutiful care and because fraternal charity imposed it on me.
Let charity be an example to you, not food, because this satisfies gluttony, that instead satisfies the spirit". (FF 608).
The Poor Assisian had very clear ideas about the priorities to be given on the spiritual path.
For him, love of God with every fibre of his being and of his neighbour was a sweet truth carved into his heart in letters of fire.
In this regard, we are assisted by the Sources, rich in episodes of life.
Clare, a faithful disciple of Francis, did the same within the Damianite walls, always ready to serve lovingly the sisters of her community and those who knocked at the Monastery door.
"She washed the seats of the infirm, she cleansed them herself, with that noble spirit of hers, without shying away from filthiness or loathing the stench" (FF 3181).
"Very often he washed the feet of servants returning from outside and, washing them, kissed them" (FF 3182).
To love the Lord with all one's strength and one's neighbour as oneself is worth more than holocausts; the two Assisian giants had understood this well, testifying to all.
"And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your life and with all your mind and with all your strength [...] You shall love your neighbour as yourself" (Mk 12:30-31).
Thursday 9th wk. in O.T. (Mk 12,28b-34)