Chapter 10 of Matthew continues to present us with a Jesus who asks his disciples, sent to preach the nearness of the Kingdom of Heaven, to give freely as they have received, trusting in Providence.

The Poor Man of Assisi followed Jesus' instructions to his disciples to the letter, committing himself to proclaiming the Gospel without taking anything with him.

Francis described himself as "simplex et idiota" (simple and stupid). For him, the transparency and simplicity of little ones was the key to the Kingdom of Heaven.

As Jesus says in the Gospel, he was convinced that only those who become like children in their mentality can understand the dynamics of the Kingdom, which requires the acceptance of the pure of heart, of those who live the Word without prejudice of any kind and with trust in God.

In the Franciscan Sources, the dimension of smallness and simplicity is transversal and marked, as many passages attest.

"The Saint practised holy simplicity with particular care and loved it in others, for it is the daughter of Grace, the true sister of wisdom and the mother of justice.

Not that he approved of every kind of simplicity, but only that which, content with its God, despises all else.

And that which places its glory in the fear of the Lord, and which knows neither how to say nor do evil.

Simplicity that examines itself and condemns no one in its judgement, that desires no office for itself, but considers it due and attributes it to the best [...]

It is simplicity that leaves the tortuousness of words, embellishments and frills in all divine laws, as well as ostentation and curiosity to those who want to lose themselves, and seeks not the bark but the marrow, not the shell but the kernel, not many things but the many, the highest and most stable Good" (FF 775).

This simplicity, sister of true wisdom, is characteristic of the little ones, the least, the children who welcome the Kingdom of God knocking at the door of their hearts.

The smallness of Francis, the framework of his evangelical life, is moving.

"Francis, a man of God, stripped of worldly things [...] committed himself to serving God in every way possible [...]

With ardent enthusiasm he will make this and similar appeals full of ingenuity, for this chosen one of God had a candid and childlike soul, did not resort to the learned language of human wisdom, but was simple and immediate in everything" (FF 1420).

"And in fact, everything that the heavenly Father has created for the benefit of men, he continues to give us freely even after sin, to the worthy as well as to the unworthy, because of the love he has for his beloved Son" (FF 1610).

"He was not ashamed to ask small things of those smaller than himself; he, the true minor, who had learned great things from the supreme Master.

He used to seek with singular zeal the way and means of serving God more perfectly, as He pleased Him best.

This was his supreme philosophy, this his supreme desire, as long as he lived: to ask the wise and the simple, the perfect and the imperfect, the young and the old, how he might most virtuously attain the summit of perfection" (FF 1205 - Leggenda maggiore).

Francis loved with the heart of a child and taught this to his friars and to the poor ladies of St Damian, virtuous sisters on the path of faith, among whom Clare shone for her humility and transparency.

This young woman gave witness to the light; she was a morning star in becoming a child at the service of God, following in the footsteps of Christ, following the example of her blessed father Francis, a true lover and imitator of Him.

«Freely you have received, freely give» (Mt 10:8)

Thursday of the 14th wk. in Ordinary Time (Mt 10:7-15)