In today's Gospel, Jesus tells parables about the Kingdom of God, drawing inspiration from elements of nature: mustard seeds and yeast.

With natural and real connections, he explains the nature of the Kingdom.

Francis and Clare of Assisi were two mustard seeds that grew in humility and obscurity and became trees so large that many creatures found shelter in their branches.

Specifically, the papal bull of canonisation «Clara Claris praeclara» says this about Clare:

«This was the tall tree, stretching towards the sky, with outstretched branches, which produced sweet fruit in the field of the Church [...] and in whose pleasant and pleasant shade many followers flocked from all over, and still flock to taste its fruit» (FF 3294).

The Kingdom of God finds its development in these unique metaphors, of which the Poor Man of Assisi and the recluse Clare are vivid and concrete witnesses.

But Francis, like Jesus, also spoke to his brothers in parables. The Sources attest to this in various passages.

When he wanted to make them understand the path that awaited them in order to welcome the Kingdom of God, he recalled various parables from the Gospel.

We recall one of many with which he announced the Word entrusted to him by the Lord.

When he presented himself to the Pope, Jesus made him understand how he should express himself.

"He told the Pope how God had suggested to him the parable of a rich king who had married a beautiful poor woman with great joy and had children who looked like their father, the king, and who were therefore raised at the king's table.

He then gave the interpretation of the parable, coming to this conclusion:

'There is no need to fear that the children and heirs of the eternal King will die of hunger, for they, like Christ, were born of a poor mother by the power of the Holy Spirit and were begotten by the spirit of poverty in a poor religion.

For if the King of heaven promises the eternal kingdom to his followers, how much more will he provide for them the things he gives without distinction to the good and the bad."

The Vicar of Christ listened attentively to this parable and its interpretation and, filled with wonder, recognised without a shadow of a doubt that Christ had spoken through that man.

But he was also reassured by a vision he had at that moment, in which the Spirit of God showed him the mission to which Francis was destined.

In fact, as he recounted, he saw in a dream that the Basilica of St. John Lateran was about to collapse and that a poor man, small and despicable in appearance, was supporting it, putting his shoulders under it so that it would not fall.

"Truly," concluded the Pope, "this is the one who, through his work and his teaching, will support the Church of Christ" (FF 1064).

"Relying on divine grace and papal authority, Francis, full of confidence, set out for the Spoletana valley, ready to practise and teach the Gospel" (FF 1065).

These parables are also a narrative of the coming of the Kingdom of God, its expansion in the mustard seed of Francis and Clare, and their incredible developments.

Monday, 17th week in Ordinary Time  (Mt 13:31-35)

After teaching his disciples to pray, Jesus urges them to ask for what they need and to knock because the door will be opened to them.

For Francis of Assisi, giving to those in need was a way of life. This verb, 'to give', was often replaced by another typically Franciscan one: 'to give back'.

For him, giving his cloak to a poor man who knocked at the door of his heart meant giving back what had been lent to him.

On the other hand, as the Gospel says, whatever we wish to be done to us, we must also do to our neighbour (cf. Mt 7:12).

At the same time, he considered it important and a sign of humility to know how to ask.

After his change of life, obeying the voice of the Crucified One at San Damiano and overcoming himself, he devoted himself to countless labours.

The Sources narrate:

"Francis, a man of God, stripped of worldly possessions, consecrated himself to divine worship and, no longer caring for his own advantage, committed himself to serving God in every way possible.

Returning to the church of St. Damian, all happy and fervent, he made himself a hermit's habit and comforted the priest of that church with the same words of encouragement that the bishop had addressed to him.

Then, returning to the city, he began to walk through the squares and streets, praising the Lord with his soul intoxicated.

When he finished his praises, he set about obtaining the stones needed to restore the church. He said:

"Whoever gives me a stone will receive a reward; whoever gives me two stones will receive two rewards; whoever gives me three stones will receive three rewards!"

With ardent enthusiasm, he made 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 direct in everything" (FF 1420).

According to the Poverello, begging for alms for the love of God was the most noble and dignified gesture before the Lord and the world.

"For everything that the heavenly Father has created for the use of men, he continues to give freely even after sin, to the worthy and unworthy alike, because of the love he has for his beloved Son" (FF 1610).

«Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you» (Lk 11:9)

Sunday 17th, Ordinary Time, year C  (Lk 11:1-13)

Francis, the Little One of God, often instructed his brothers not to be servants of the weeds sown in the world by the evil one, not to follow his perverse and anti-Gospel logic. He recommended that they live the Word sown by Christ. 

We find, in fact, in his writings:

"All those who [...] walk after evil concupiscence [...] and do not observe those things which they have promised to the Lord and serve [...] the cares of the world and the preoccupations of this life: these are prisoners of the devil, whose children they are and do the works; they are blind, for they do not see the true light, our Lord Jesus Christ. They do not have spiritual Wisdom, for they do not possess the Son of God, who is the true wisdom of the Father" (FF 178/4).

Also, as he explained to the Supreme Pontiff to whom he went for approval of the Rule, the children of God have nothing to fear:

"There is no need to fear that the children and heirs of the Eternal King should die of hunger; for they, in the likeness of Christ, were born of a poor mother, by virtue of the Holy Spirit, and were begotten, by virtue of the spirit of poverty, into a poor religion.

For if the King of Heaven promises to his imitators the Eternal Kingdom, how much more will he provide for them those things which he bestows without distinction on the good and the bad" (FF 1064).

«The good field is the world; the good seed, these are the children of the Kingdom. But the tares are the children of the wicked» (Mt 13:38)

Saturday of the 16th wk in O.T.  (Mt 13,24-30)

In today's Gospel Jesus teaches his disciples about humility and greatness in service.

He who wants to become great will be first in service. Compared to the imperial criterion, the evangelical criterion is quite different - it elevates those who make themselves last and do not dominate.

Thanks to the light received from the Spirit, Francis and Clare had learnt to incarnate the Word of God on a daily basis.

The target of their action was Christ to be recognised and served in the brothers or sisters, but also to be helped in those who knocked on the door or met along the way.

The children of the kingdom of heaven do not rule, but humbly serve their neighbour.

Jesus' disciples do not aspire to prestigious positions, but to conform to the identikit outlined in the Beatitudes.

Hence the active understanding of what the Sources propose.

"They [the brothers] occupied the day in prayer and working with their hands, so as to resolutely avoid idleness, the enemy of the soul [...].

They loved each other with a deep affection, and served and provided for each other as a mother would do with her only tenderly loved child.

Such was the affection that burned in their hearts, that they were ready to give themselves up to death without hesitation, not only for the love of Christ, but also to save the souls or bodies of their brethren" (FF 1446).

«As the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve and to give his life, a ransom for many»  (Mt 20:28)

And Clare herself, enclosed within Damianite walls, offered in simplicity to her sisters the witness of all-round service.

"From then on she no longer refused any servile duties, to the point that she was the one who poured water over the sisters' hands, stood to assist them while they sat and served them at table while they ate.

She hardly gave any orders: but she did it herself spontaneously, preferring to carry them out herself rather than command her sisters" (FF 3180).

"She washed the seats of the infirm, she cleansed them herself, with that noble spirit of hers, without shying away from filthiness or disgusting the stench" (FF 3181).

The Minim and the Poor Woman of Saint Damian had received as a gift a pure heart, inflamed by Charity, at the service of the Kingdom.

Looking to Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of the law, they had acquired His physiognomy as fraternal servants, to redeem the multitudes.

St James the Apostle  (Mt 20:20-28)

Today's liturgy highlights a passage from Matthew in which Jesus emphasises listening to the Word and opening one's heart.

The parables He illustrates are not understood because these two existential dimensions are lacking.

The poor people of Assisi distinguished themselves for their great capacity for introspection and for welcoming the message of the Kingdom.

Specifically, the papal bull of canonisation «Clara Claris praeclara» says this about Clare:

«This was the tall tree, stretching towards the sky, with outstretched branches, which produced sweet fruit in the field of the Church [...] and in whose pleasant and pleasant shade many followers flocked from all over, and still flock to taste its fruits» (FF 3294).

The Kingdom of God finds its development in these unique metaphors, of which the Little Brother of Assisi and Clare, the recluse, are vivid and concrete testimonies.

But Francis, like Jesus, also spoke to his brothers in parables. The Sources attest to this in various passages.

When he wanted to make them understand the path that awaited them in order to welcome the Kingdom of God, he recalled various parables from the Gospel.

We recall one among many, with which he announced the Word that the Lord had entrusted to him.

When Jesus presented himself to the Pope, he made him understand how he should express himself.

"He told the Pope how God had suggested it to him, the parable of a rich king who had married a beautiful poor woman with great joy and had children who looked like their father, the king, and who were therefore raised at the king's table.

He then gave the interpretation of the parable, coming to this conclusion:

'There is no need to fear that the children and heirs of the eternal King will die of hunger, for they, like Christ, were born of a poor mother by the power of the Holy Spirit and were begotten by the spirit of poverty in a poor religion.

For if the King of heaven promises the eternal kingdom to his followers, how much more will he provide for them the things he gives without distinction to the good and the bad."

The Vicar of Christ listened attentively to this parable and its interpretation and, filled with wonder, recognised without a shadow of a doubt that Christ had spoken through that man.

But he was also reassured by a vision he had at that moment, in which the Spirit of God showed him the mission to which Francis was destined.

In fact, as he recounted, he saw in a dream that the Basilica of St. John Lateran was about to collapse and that a poor man, small and of despicable appearance, was supporting it, placing his shoulders under it so that it would not fall.

"Truly," concluded the Pope, "this is the one who, by his work and his teaching, will support the Church of Christ" (FF 1064).

"Relying on divine grace and papal authority, Francis, full of confidence, set out for the Spoleto valley, ready to practise and teach the Gospel" (FF 1065).

These parables are also the story of the coming of the Kingdom of God, its expansion on fertile ground such as that of Francis and Clare, and its incredible developments.

They understood the parables told by Jesus because they had not closed their eyes and ears, but offered God a listening heart.

Thursday of the 16th wk. in Ordinary Time  (Mt 13:10-17)

On the feast of St Bridget, patron saint of Europe, the liturgy offers us a passage from the Johannine Gospel.

In it Jesus reminds us that He is the true vine and His Father the farmer. Only those who remain united to Jesus will bear much fruit.

Francis, ever since he had met the Lord, had been convinced that only by abiding in his love would he go far, together with his own.

In the Sources there is a passage that illustrates this.

"Francis, shepherd of the little flock, inspired by divine Grace, led his twelve friars to St Mary of the Portiuncula, because he wanted the Order of Minors to grow and develop, under the protection of the Mother of God, there where, by her merits, it had begun.

There, moreover, he became a herald of the Gospel. He began to travel through towns and villages and to proclaim the kingdom of God there, not relying on persuasive speeches of human wisdom, but on the demonstration of spirit and power.

To those who saw him, he looked like a man from another world: one who, his mind and face always turned to heaven, strove to draw all upwards.

From then on, the vineyard of Christ began to produce fragrant shoots of the good odour of the Lord, and abundant fruit with sweet flowers of grace and holiness" (FF 1072).

Francis strove to ensure that his fraternity would remain well united with Jesus, the true Vine, so that in Saint Mary of the Portiuncula the sap of the Spirit would permanently echo and the Trinity would dwell in them and among them.

She knew well that without God's help it would not be possible to do anything, not even to persevere in the call-mission she had received.

Throughout her life, she strove to ensure that the extended vineyard of the Friars Minor would bear fruitful fruit for God and never stray from the Gospel, Divine Custody.

Clare also was a prudent Mother, consummate so that her daughters and sisters would commit themselves to remain in the Word of God and in communion.

The austerity of life embraced was tempered by the deep love with which they were both tenaciously attached to the Vine of Christ.

«I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him bears much fruit, for without me you can do nothing» (Jn 15:5)

St Bridget of Sweden  (Jn 15:1-8)

On the feast of St. Mary Magdalene, the Liturgy proposes to us the passage from John that concerns her most closely, as it challenges every soul in its search for the Master.

«Woman, why are you weeping? Whom do you seek?» (Jn 20:15).

Mary of Magdala wept for her Lord, near the tomb. Lost and grieving, she grieved not knowing where he was, until Jesus made himself present.

Clare too, in the enclosure of San Damiano, wept while praying for her Christ, uniting herself to his Passion, while awaiting the Resurrection.

In the Legend we read:

"She had now fixed her burning gaze of interior desire in the Light and, having transcended the sphere of human vicissitudes, she opened the field of her spirit wide to the rain of Grace.

[...]

Very often, prostrate in prayer with her face to the ground, she bathed the ground with tears and brushed it with kisses: so that she seems always to have her Jesus in her arms, whose feet she bathes with tears, on whom she imprints kisses" (FF 3197).

Clare sought the Lord interiorly, even for those who did not desire Him.

She was careful not to hold back Christ who ascended to the Father, living the proclamation of the Resurrection with a face of light, testifying to the present vision of Him to the brothers and sisters who approached her.

He lived the perennial earthly Exodus in view of the Promised Land, which he already savoured in small doses.

Francis, for his part, jester of the Resurrection, mourned the Passion of Love, corroborated by existential rebirth.

Again, in St Bonaventure's Major Legend:

"To those who saw him, he seemed a man from another world: one who, his mind and face always turned to heaven, strove to draw all upwards" (FF 1072).

Just as Mary of Magdala made the transition from the outside [near the tomb] to the inside of her own soul and vicissitude - to recognise the Risen Jesus.

So Francis, after living on the outside, among cheerful Assisian brigands, had encountered the 'Rabbuni' within his heart. Recognising and deciphering the Master of his life, in prayer before the Crucifix at saint Damian.

There he found God, he found himself again; in the midst of weeping and perfect joy.

Jesus also asked him the question: "Why are you weeping? Whom do you seek?" (Jn 20:15).

The Damianite Crucified became the place of his resurrection, where the weeping of a missed life, spent in solace, gave way to the Calling by name, in view of personal and community regeneration.

At saint Damian, when a divine Voice came to him from the Crucifix inviting him to change his life, the Poor Man uttered this prayer

«May conquer, I pray thee, O Lord,

the burning and sweet power of your love

my mind from all things that are under heaven,

that I may die for love of thy love,

as thou hast deigned to die

for love of my love» (FF 277).

St Mary Magdalene  (Jn 20:1-2.11-18)

In today's Gospel, the scribes and Pharisees demand a sign from Jesus, even though Christ had already given them many.

But the only saving sign given to the people of believers by the Father is Christ who died and rose again.

After his conversion, Francis understood this well and became himself a sign for all those who met him.

The Sources, in fact, speak of the servant of God in this way:

"He received from Heaven the mission to call men to weep, to lament, to shave their heads and to gird themselves with sackcloth, and to imprint, with the sign of the penitential cross and with a garment made in the form of a cross, the Tau, on the foreheads of those who mourn and weep. But he confirms this to us with his indisputable truth, the testimony of that seal which made him like the living God, that is, Christ Crucified. This seal was imprinted on his body not by the work of nature or the skill of a craftsman, but rather by the marvellous power of the Spirit of the living God" (FF 1022).

Indeed, Francis, transformed into "Alter Christus," becomes the sign of Jonah for all those he meets. Even for the brigands of Monte Casale who convert to God through his testimony.

In fact, in the Sources we read:

"In a hermitage located above Borgo San Sepolcro, certain thieves came from time to time to ask for bread [...] And behold, Francis arrived at that hermitage. The friars explained their dilemma to him: should they or should they not give bread to those criminals?

The Saint replied: 'If you do as I suggest, I trust in the Lord that you will succeed in winning those souls'" (FF 1646).

So Francis advised his friars to buy good bread and wine, go into the woods and set the table for them.

"They will come happily to eat. Treat them with respect and at the end speak to them about the Word of God, and ask them to promise not to treat people badly anymore."

The friars did as Francis had told them, and "the thieves, through the mercy and grace that God poured out upon them, listened and carried out point by point the requests made to them by the friars [...] Finally, through God's goodness and the kindness and friendship of the friars, some of those brigands entered the Order, while others converted to penance, promising [...] that from then on they would no longer commit such evil deeds and would live by the work of their hands" (FF 1646).

True witnesses of the Gospel are always an eloquent sign for everyone.

«A wicked and adulterous generation seeks a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah the prophet» (Mt 12:39)

Monday of the 16th wk. in Ordinary Time  (Mt 12:38-42)

Francis of Assisi, the Wise and the Little One of God, always had a clear conscience about the importance and necessity of the contemplative life, tempered by work that keeps away idleness and conforms to Christ. He demanded this for himself and for his friars. He went so far as to say that serving his brothers was worth more than any stay in the hermitages, where he himself loved to go when he could.

We read in his writings: "And I worked with my hands, and I want to work; and I firmly want all the other friars to work in a way that is fitting for honesty. Those who do not know how to work should learn, not out of greed for the reward of work, but to set an example and keep away from idleness" (FF 119).

Furthermore: "We are convinced that [...] those who live differently in hermitages have been severely rebuked. For many transform the place of contemplation into idleness and reduce the hermitic way of life, instituted to enable souls to attain perfection, to a place of pleasure [...] Certainly, this rebuke is not for everyone. We know that there are saints [...] who follow excellent rules in the hermitage" (FF 765).

Even among the friars there was discussion about whether to live a life of contemplation or action. In fact, in the Leggenda Maggiore it is written:

"While they were steadfast in their holy purpose and approaching the valley of Spoleto, they began to discuss whether they should spend their lives among people or dwell in solitary places. 

But Francis, the servant of Christ, not trusting in his own experience or that of his companions, entrusted himself to prayer, to seek insistently what the divine will was on this point.

He was thus enlightened with an answer from Heaven and understood that he had been sent by the Lord for this purpose: to win souls for Christ [...] And so he chose to live for everyone, rather than for himself alone, inspired by the example of the One who deigned to die, He alone, for all men" (FF1066).

But love for prayer and listening to the Word always accompanied his actions and those of his friars.

"His tireless devotion to prayer [...] had brought the man of God to such clarity of mind that [...] he scrutinised the depths of Scripture with a clear and sharp intellect. He read the sacred books and kept firmly in his memory what he had once assimilated, for he continually pondered with affectionate devotion what he had heard with an attentive mind" (FF1187).

Transformed into prayer, without neglecting his duties:

Francis had a special predilection for the Word of God and, without neglecting his duties towards his neighbour, he always gave priority to listening to what the Lord asked or taught, fixing it firmly in his mind.

He had chosen the better part, the one that no one could take away from him. 

In fact, the Sources teach us in this regard:

"He spent all his time in holy recollection to imprint wisdom in his heart; he feared going backwards if he did not always progress.

And if at times visits from secular people or other matters pressed upon him, he would cut them short rather than finish them, in order to take refuge again in contemplation [...]

He always sought a secluded place where he could unite himself not only with his spirit but with every member of his body to his God" (FF 681).

"Often without moving his lips, he meditated at length within himself and, concentrating his external powers inward, he rose with his spirit to heaven. In this way he directed his whole mind and affection to the one thing he asked of God: he was not so much a man praying as he was himself transformed into a living prayer" (FF 682).

He had understood the essence of the Gospel.

When he was sick and in pain, a friar who had learned from Francis to take refuge in the Scriptures and who now invited him to read them for relief, the Saint replied:

"It is good to read the testimonies of Scripture, and it is good to seek the Lord our God in them. But as for me, I have already taken so much from the Scriptures that it is more than enough for my meditation and reflection. I need no more, my son: I know Christ poor and crucified" (FF 692).

16th Sunday in Ordinary Time, year C  (Lk 10:38-42)