Mark depicts Jesus teaching in the temple, emphasising the connection between the Messiah—believed to be the Son of David—and the king himself.

Francis himself, to help his friars grow in the vision of the Kingdom of God, so that suffering and adversity might take on another dimension, once spoke in this way to one of his friars.

The Sources recount:

“He [Brother Leonardo] himself reported that one day the blessed Francis, at Santa Maria degli Angeli, called Brother Leo and said to him

«Brother Leo, write down […] what true joy is».

«Well, I am returning from Perugia and, in the dead of night, I arrive here, and it is a muddy winter so bitterly cold that icicles of frozen water form at the hem of my habit […]

And I, covered in mud, cold and ice, reach the door and, after knocking and calling for a long time, a friar comes and asks: ‘Who is it?’

I reply: «Friar Francis».

And he says: ‘Go away, this is no decent hour to be out and about; you shall not enter.’

And since I still insist, the other replies: “Go away, you are a simpleton and an idiot; you cannot come here now; there are so many of us that we have no need of you”.

And I remain at the door and say:

«For God’s sake, take me in for this night».

And he replies: “I will not do so. Go to the place of the Cross-bearers and ask there.”

«Well then, if I have been patient and have not been troubled, I tell you that here is true joy, and here is true virtue and the salvation of the soul» (FF 278).

«David himself said in the Holy Spirit: ‘The Lord said to my Lord: Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet’»  (Mk 12:36)

Friday, 9th wk. in Ordinary Time  (Mk 12:35-37)