Jesus emphasises the importance of being faithful in small things, as a precursor to being faithful in important things.

For Francis of Assisi, faithfulness to his promises and to the Gospel of Christ was the meaning and reason for his life. He knew well that what men exalt is often not praised by the Most High.

After his conversion, the Poor Man of Assisi understood that Christ, out of loyalty to the Father's Plan, had given his life and that he too was called to do so together with his brothers.

In the Sources, a treasure trove of unique experiences, we find significant passages:

"He often repeated to the friars:

'No one should flatter themselves with unjust pride for those actions that even a sinner could perform. The sinner,' he explained, 'can fast, pray, weep, and mortify his body.

But there is one thing he cannot do: remain faithful to his Lord. This is precisely what we must glory in, if we give God the glory that is his due, if as faithful servants we attribute to him all the good he gives us.

Man's worst enemy is his flesh: it is completely incapable of reflecting on the past in order to repent, it knows nothing of how to protect itself. Its only concern is to take advantage of the present moment without scruples.

And what is worse, he added, it usurps and attributes to its own glory what has not been given to it, but to the soul. The flesh reaps praise from virtues, and applause from vigils and prayers, from the people. It leaves nothing to the soul and even seeks profit from tears" (FF 718).

And in her letters, Clare of Assisi, writing to her spiritual daughter, Ermentrude of Bruges:

"Faithfully return to God what you have promised with a vow, and He will give you your reward.

Lift up your eyes to heaven, O dearest, for it is an invitation to us, and take up the cross and follow Christ who goes before us" (FF 2195).

"Bring to completion the good you have begun and fulfil the mystery you have embraced in holy poverty and sincere humility" (FF 2916).

«Whoever [is] faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and [whoever] is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much» (Lk 16:10)

Saturday 31st wk. in Ordinary Time  (Lk 16:9-15)

In today's Gospel Jesus speaks to His own with the parable of the dishonest steward who shrewdly secures friends with the wealth of others in order to be welcomed by them into his uncertain future.

Francis of Assisi, in reality, is the one who was able to make friends in Heaven with dishonest wealth.

He did not love it, in fact he returned everything to his father, marrying Lady Poverty.

But his merit was that he knew how to make use of earthly goods in a wise, evangelical way.

The Franciscan Sources, a place of spiritual wealth, highlight this:

"Even on major feasts, when there was an opportunity, he used to go for alms. Because, he said, in the poor of God the word of the prophet is fulfilled: man has eaten the bread of Angels. The bread of the Angels is that which holy poverty gathers from door to door and which, asked for the love of God, for the love of God is given out, at the suggestion of the holy Angels" (FF 1129).

And in Clare's Rule we see how she speaks of poverty addressed to her sisters:

"Let this be your portion of inheritance, which introduces you into the land of the living. Adhering totally to it, never, beloved sisters, have anything else under heaven, for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ and his most holy Mother" (FF 2795).

They knew, in fact, that goods given to those in need constitute the cornerstone of following Jesus and his Holy Word.

«The sons of this age are more astute than the sons of light towards their own kind» (Lk 16:8b)

Friday, 31st wk. in O.T.  (Lk 16:1-8)