To the scribes who ask what is the greatest commandment Jesus answers in a disconcerting way: Listen! To love God and neighbour with all one's self is worth more than a thousand sacrifices!
To the scribe, who had understood all this, Jesus points out that he is not far from the Kingdom of God.
The Poor Assisian had clear ideas about the priorities to be given on the spiritual path.
For him, love for God with every fibre of his being, and for his neighbour, was a sweet truth carved into his heart in letters of fire.
In this regard, we are assisted by the Sources, rich in episodes from his life.
"The soul was all thirsty for its Christ and offered itself entirely to Him in body and spirit [...].
She was always looking for a secluded place, where she could be united not only with her spirit, but with her individual limbs, to her God.
And if he suddenly felt visited by the Lord, so as not to be without a cell, he made himself a small one with his cloak.
And if at times he was without it, he would cover his face with his sleeve, so as not to reveal the hidden manna [...].
Often, without moving his lips, he would meditate for a long time within himself and, concentrating the outward powers within, he would lift up his spirit to heaven.
In this way he directed his whole mind and affection to that one thing he asked of God: he was not so much a praying man as he himself was transformed into a living prayer' (FF 681-682).
Also, from the very beginning of his conversion, love for his brothers, compassion for their sufferings and needs, were the guiding motif of his actions.
"He took much money with him and went to the lepers' hospice; he gathered them together and distributed alms to each one, kissing their hands.
On his return, the contact that had previously been repugnant to him, that is, seeing and touching lepers, was truly transformed into sweetness [...] by the grace of God he became a companion and friend of the lepers so that, as he says in his Testament, he stood among them and humbly served them" (FF 1408).
Clare, a faithful disciple of Francis, did the same within the Damianite walls, always ready to serve lovingly the sisters of her community and those who knocked at the Monastery door.
"She washed the seats of the infirm, she cleansed them herself, with that noble spirit of hers, without shying away from filthiness or disgusting stench" (FF 3181).
"Very often she washed the feet of the servants who returned from outside and, washing them, she kissed them" (FF 3182).
Loving the Lord with all one's strength and one's neighbour as oneself is worth more than holocausts; the two Assisian giants had understood this well, testifying it to all.
«And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your life and with all your mind and with all your strength [...] You shall love your neighbour as yourself» (Mk 12:30-31)
Friday, 3rd wk. in Lent (Mk 12,28b-34)
