Jesus urges the mission to which the disciples are called: in poverty, as lambs among wolves; preaching the Kingdom of God.
Francis knew how to address a special greeting of Peace to the people he met, by divine revelation.
And, like Jesus, he sent his brothers out two by two to announce the Good News of the Kingdom.
The Sources specifically state.
"In each of his sermons, before communicating the Word of God to the people, he wished for peace, saying:
«May the Lord give you Peace!».
This Peace he always proclaimed with great devotion to men and women, to all those he met or who came to him.
In this way he obtained, by the grace of the Lord, to induce the enemies of Peace and of their own salvation, to become themselves children of Peace and desirous of eternal salvation" (FF 359).
And again, Francis took on the "mission of the apostles" in its entirety.
In fact, "the pious father gathered all his sons around him and spoke at length with them about the Kingdom of God, about the contempt of the world [...] and revealed his intention to send them to the four parts of the world" (FF 1058)
«Go», said the sweet Father to his children, «proclaim peace to men; preach penance for the remission of sins.
Be patient in tribulations, watchful in prayer, valiant in labours, modest in speech, grave in conduct, and grateful in benefactions.
And in recompense for all this, the eternal kingdom is prepared for you».
He then said to each one in particular:
«Entrust your fate to the Lord, and He will feed you».
He divided them two by two, in the form of a cross, sending them out into the world.
After assigning the other three parts to the other six, he himself went with a companion to a part of the world, knowing that he had been chosen as an example for others and that he had first to do and then to teach" (FF 1059).
And he often «redeemed the lambs that were led to the slaughter, in memory of that most meek Lamb, who was willing to be led to death to redeem sinners» (FF 1145).
«Go! Behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves» (Lk 10:3)
St Luke, the Evangelist (Lk 10:1-9)
