Even Francis, when he was still in the world and faced with the unravelling of his specific call from the Lord [and subsequent conversion] had to struggle against Herod's leaven: lust for power and glory.
It was God, then, who enlightened him and made him distance himself from what was leading him astray.
"A nobleman from Assisi, eager for money and glory, took up arms to go and fight in Apulia. On hearing of this, Francis was seized with a thirst for adventure. So, in order to be created a knight by a certain Count Gentile, he prepares a trousseau of precious cloths; for if he was less rich than his fellow citizen, he was, however, more generous than him in spending [...]" (FF 1399).
But the Lord, knowing him to be so eager for glory and power, visited him with a vision.
While he was sleeping, a man appeared to him who, calling him by name, led him to a beautiful palace where weapons and objects of warfare were seen hanging on the wall.
Francis asked to whom all these things and the palace belonged. He was answered that it all belonged to him and his knights.
He woke up, all happy, interpreting the dream according to worldly criteria. Having not yet fully tasted the spirit of God, he imagined he would become a prince.
So, interpreting it as an omen of good fortune, he wanted to leave for Apulia, to be created a knight by that Count.
When he arrived in Spoleto, he began to feel unwell and in his sleep he heard a voice asking him where he was going. Francis told him of his ambitious project.
"He said, «Who can be of more use to you: the master or the servant?» He answered: "The master”.
The One resumed: «Why then do you abandon the master to follow the servant, and the prince for the subject?»
Then Francis asked, "Lord, what do you want me to do?"
Concluded the voice: «Return to your city and there you will be told what you must do; for the vision that has appeared to you must be interpreted in a different sense».
[...] The morning dawned and in great haste he diverted his horse to Assisi, happy and exultant" (FF 1401).
Thus Francis abandoned the leaven of Herod to adhere to Christ, becoming its great Herald, courageous and tenacious.
Tuesday 6th wk. in O.T. (Mk 8,14-21)