Jesus exhorts not to accumulate treasures on earth, soon to be consumed, but in God because they are eternal.
In the Sources, the theme of not accumulating is at home, since Francis, throughout his life, thought only of returning what he had received, starting with his father to whom he "returned" even his clothes, following 'naked' the path of poverty, his coveted wealth.
The Minim had his mind and heart turned to God and sought only the Kingdom of heaven, in simplicity and purity of heart. Testimony to this is given to us by one of several passages from the Franciscan Sources.
We read:
"These visits to the lepers increased his goodness. Leading one of his companions, whom he loved very much, to an out-of-the-way place, he told him that he had discovered a great and precious treasure.
He was overjoyed and willingly joined Francis when invited.
He would often lead him to a cave near Assisi; he would enter it alone, leaving his friend outside, impatient to get hold of the treasure [...].
Animated by an extraordinary new spirit, he prayed in secret to the Father [...].
He suffered unspeakable suffering and anguish in his heart, for he could not be serene until he had realised his vocation' (FF 1409).
On his way, in the middle of winter, in Celano, the Poverello gave a little old woman his cloak.
He said to her:
«Go, make yourself a dress, that you really need it» (FF 673).
And Clare, in her letters, writing to her spiritual daughter, Agnes of Bohemia, states:
«You who have preferred poverty to temporal riches, and have entrusted your treasures, rather than to earth, to heaven, where neither rust corrodes them, nor woodworm consumes them, nor thieves discover them or steal them, you will receive abundant reward in heaven [...]» (FF 2866).
The theme of wealth to be shared, of 'not withholding' and 'giving back' to God and to one's brothers and sisters, was very much felt by Francis of Assisi; one of the guiding motives of his journey of faith.
In the Sources we read:
"Once, while returning from Siena, he met a poor man. It happened that Francis, because of illness, was wearing a cloak over his clothes.
Looking with merciful eyes at the man's misery, he said to his companion:
«We must return the cloak to this poor man: for it is his. For we have received it on loan, until we should happen to find someone poorer than ourselves».
The companion, however, considering the state in which the pitiful father found himself, opposed a clear refusal: he had no right to forget himself, in order to provide for another.
But the saint:
«I believe that the Great Elector will accuse me of theft, if I do not give what I wear to those most in need» " (FF 1143).
«Do not store up treasures on earth» (Mt 6:19)
Friday of the 11th wk. in O.T. (Mt 6,19-23)
