Mark recounts the healing of a deaf man who stutters: Jesus calls him aside, puts his fingers in his ears and touches his tongue with saliva.

Even the witnesses of the Word of God, those who resemble Christ in life, are made capable of healing the sick of all kinds by Him.

Francis had this charisma from God. We read in the Sources:

"In Città della Pieve there was a young beggar, deaf and mute from birth. His tongue was so short and thin that it seemed to be cut off at the root [...].

A certain Mark gave him hospitality for the love of God, and the young man, feeling that he loved him, made a habit of staying with him.

One evening during dinner, Mark said to his wife in the presence of the young man:

"If blessed Francis would give this boy back his hearing and speech, that would be a great miracle".

Then he added: "I vow to God that if Francis deigns to perform this miracle, I will keep this boy at my own expense all his life".

A truly marvellous thing: at that very instant the boy's tongue swelled and he began to speak, saying: 'Glory to God and St Francis, who have given me hearing and speech!

Yes, the Lord does everything well, always!

He gives his prophets what they sensitively attest with their lives, transforming them into splinters of Light for the path of many.

The Lord also uses his friends for those who do not want to hear and obey the Word, bringing them back to listening.

In the Sources we find a significant episode, taken from the Second Life of Celano.

"Another friar did not want to obey the Saint's vicar, but followed a confrere as his superior.

The Saint, who was present, admonished him by means of a third person, and he threw himself at the feet of the vicar and, leaving the master whom he had chosen, promised obedience to the one whom the Saint assigned to him as his superior.

Francis heaved a deep sigh, and turned to his companion, whom he had sent to warn him:

"I saw, brother," he said to him, "on the back of the disobedient friar a devil clasped around his neck.

Subdued and held in bridle by such a knight, after having shaken the bite of obedience, he let himself be led by his will and whim.

But when I prayed to the Lord for him, immediately the demon turned away in confusion'.

So penetrating was this man's gaze, that although he had weak eyes for material things, he had discerning ones for the spirit [...].

There is, I say, no other choice: either to carry a light burden, by which you yourself will rather be carried, or to be a slave to iniquity" (FF 620).

«He has done all things well, and makes the deaf to hear and the dumb to speak» (Mk 7:37)

Friday 5th wk. in O.T.  (Mk 7,31-37)