Jesus, invited to the home of one of the leaders of the Pharisees, used a parable to try to make the guests understand the value of the lowest seat, chosen with humility.

Francis loved God’s poverty and humility and sought to follow them in every way.

He detested the pomp of the places of honour and wished to feed on humiliation, following in the footsteps of the Son of God, as taught in his Gospel.

One need only read what Francis says to his friars in the Letter to the Whole Order to be amazed at how much he loved humility.

«Behold, brothers, the humility of God, and open your hearts before him; humble yourselves too, so that you may be exalted by him.

Therefore, keep nothing of yourselves for yourselves, so that He who offers himself wholly to you may receive you wholly» (FF 221).

And again, in St Bonaventure’s *Major Legend*:

“Francis, both in himself and in others, preferred humility to all honours; and therefore God, who loves the humble, deemed him worthy of the most exalted glory, as was shown by the vision experienced by a most virtuous and devout friar.

This friar, a travelling companion of the man of God, whilst praying with him one day in an abandoned church, was caught up in ecstasy.

He saw in heaven many thrones and, amongst them, one more splendid and glorious than all the others, studded with precious stones.

Marvelling at the splendour of that most eminent throne, he began to wonder anxiously who on earth was destined to occupy it […]

He heard a voice saying to him:

«This throne belonged to one of the rebellious angels and is now reserved for the humble Francis».

Having come to his senses […] the friar followed the Saint, who was leaving the church.

They resumed their journey, speaking to one another about God […] and then that friar […] skilfully seized the opportunity to ask Francis what he thought of himself.

And the humble servant of Christ said to him:

«I feel I am the greatest sinner».

«If Christ had treated the most wicked of men with the same mercy and kindness with which he has treated me, I am sure that man would be far more grateful to God than I am».

The friar received confirmation that his vision was true, knowing full well that, according to the testimony of the Holy Gospel, the truly humble will be raised to that exalted glory, from which the proud are cast out” (FF 1111).

«For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted» (Lk 14:11)

Saturday, 30th wk. in Ordinary Time  (Lk 14:1, 7–11)