In chapter ten of the Gospel of John, Jesus describes himself as the Gate for the sheep; those who enter through it find salvation. He alone is the true Shepherd who cares for them and protects them from danger.
One day, as Francis neared the end of his calling, a friar asked him who would lead the Order after him.
The passage, taken from the Second Life of Celano, reads as follows:
«Father, you will pass from this life, and the family that has followed you will be left abandoned in this valley of tears. Name one, if you know of anyone in the Order, who satisfies your spirit and upon whom the burden of the office of Minister General may be laid with peace of mind».
Francis, accompanying each word with a sigh, replied:
«I know of no one capable of being the leader of such a diverse army and the shepherd of such a numerous flock. But I wish to describe to you, and, as they say, to sketch out the figure, in whom it may be clearly seen what the father of this family must be like».
«He must be,’ he continued, ‘a man of the most austere life, of great discretion and commendable reputation […] he must apply himself zealously to prayer and know how to devote certain hours to his own soul and others to the flock entrusted to him […] After prayer, then, he should make himself available to the religious, willing to be pestered by everyone, ready to respond and to provide for all with affability […] Even if he stands out for his learning, nevertheless, even more so in his conduct, he should be the portrait of virtuous simplicity and cultivate virtue […]».
And he continued:
«Let him console the afflicted, being the last refuge for the afflicted, lest it come to pass that, finding no salutary remedies with him, the sick feel overwhelmed by the disease of despair. Let him humble himself, to bend the haughty to meekness, and let him relinquish part of his right, to win a soul for Christ. When dealing with those who have deserted the Order, like lost sheep, let him not close the depths of his mercy to them, knowing full well that the temptations are most violent, which can drive one to such an act […] It is his task above all to probe the secret of consciences to extract the truth from the most hidden recesses, but let him not lend an ear to those who spread gossip […]» (FF 771-772).
All this points to the importance of being a ‘Door’ for Francis amongst his friars, whom he loved with firmness and tenderness; with discretion and understanding, for the love of Christ.
«I am the gate: whoever enters through me will be saved; they will come in and go out and find pasture» (Jn 10:9)
4th Sunday in Easter A (Jn 10:1-10)
