Jesus wants the total healing of man and an authentic faith: a companion on the way.
By divine revelation, Francis, as a good connoisseur of the Word, emphasises all this in the events narrated by the Sources, bringing out the Redeemer's work of salvation.
In the meantime, it is worth recalling what his biographer Celano expresses in the Vita prima and which, in relation to the Gospel passage considered, provides a significant framework for understanding the fact itself.
Celano speaks of the Seraphim's wings in connection with the Poverello.
We read:
"If [...] after the example of blessed Francis we preserve purity of intention and rectitude of action in every good work, so as to turn [our wings] to God, committing ourselves untiringly to follow His will in all things [...] The second pair of wings symbolises the twofold precept of charity towards our neighbour: to comfort the soul with the Word of God and to help the body with material means.
They hardly ever join together, because very rarely can a single person attend to the two tasks [communal help, then].
Their feathers represent the different works to perform the function of counselling and helping one's neighbour.
The two wings must cover the body whenever it, denuded because of sin, is again clothed with innocence through repentance and confession.
Their feathers represent all the good affections and desires aroused in the soul by the execration of faults and the desire for justice" (FF 520).
This condition was realised in the blessed Father Francis, who never detached himself from his labours and sufferings, living crucified.
He too, at first paralysed in soul and healed in sins forgiven by Christ, testified by his life of faith and penance that God heals the body but even more so the shrunken interiority of man, and that in the advice and succour given to his neighbour lies the concreteness of working faith.
To the Poor Man of Assisi, to whom Christ had said 'Francis get up, take up your bed and walk. Your sins are forgiven you', through the Mercy that bears witness to the divinity of the Son, Francis himself became an instrument of healing for many.
"In the territory of Narni there lived a young boy with such a deformed tibia that he could not move except by leaning on two crutches. He was poor and lived on alms, since he had been ill for many years and did not even know his father and mother. Through the merits of our most blessed father Francis he regained full health, and walked freely, without a stick, praising and blessing God and his faithful Servant" (FF 545).
"Seeing their faith, he said: Man, your sins are forgiven you. Get up and return to your home" (Lk 5:20.24).
Monday, 2nd wk. in Advent (Lk 5:17-26)
