In today's Gospel Jesus takes as a point of reference for entering the Kingdom of heaven the simplicity and littleness of children, because: "of such is the Kingdom of heaven" (Mt 19:14).
His exhortation not to put obstacles between Him and the least is striking.
Francis of Assisi was loved in a special way by God because of his making himself small.
With a refined mind, he described himself as "simple and idiotic".
The Poverello understood the logic of the Gospel very well: whoever wants to be great must be the smallest, like a child - in times past considered of no value; minimal.
He endeavoured to make his brothers understand all this, more with deeds than words.
Nevertheless, in his 'Letter to the Rulers of the Peoples' he writes:
"To all the podestas and consuls, magistrates and rulers of every part of the world [...] to whom this letter will reach, Brother Francis, your servant in the Lord God, small and contemptible, wishes you all health and peace" (FF 210).
Furthermore, we read in the Sources:
"The servant of God, Francis, small in stature, humble of spirit and a minor by profession, while living here on earth, chose for himself and his brothers a small portion of the world: otherwise, without using anything of this world, he would not have been able to serve Christ.
And they were certainly inspired by God who, in ancient times, called Porziuncola the place that fell to the lot of those who wanted absolutely nothing on this earth.
There stood in this place a church dedicated to the Virgin Mother, who, by her particular humility, deserved, after her Son, to be Sovereign of all Saints.
It was here that the Order of the Minors began, and their noble building rose up spacious and harmonious, as if resting on a solid foundation.
The Saint loved this place more than any other and commanded his friars to venerate it with special devotion.
He wanted it always to be kept as a mirror of the Order in humility and the highest poverty, reserving its ownership to others and keeping its use for himself and his own only" (FF 604).
And to his beloved brothers he repeated:
"We have promised great things, greater things are promised to us; let us observe those and aspire to them. Pleasure is short, punishment eternal; suffering small, glory infinite" (FF 778).
Francis understood that to be Christ's and heirs of the Kingdom means not to count according to worldly mentality, and to carry with one the simplicity of the dove, as well as the frank transparency of the child.
This outfit requires belonging to the Eternal, and its transparency on earth.
Saturday of the 19th wk. in O.T. (Mt 19:13-15)
