Today's Gospel passage highlights the spiritual intelligence of one who, like Francis, places at the service of the Kingdom all that The Most High has deposited in his bare existence.

Those who place the mines (Greek currency/talents) received at the service of the Gospel will find them increased by the Lord's longanimity.

Francis, who described himself as a "simplex et idiota", after meeting Christ, changes his skin - and everything he previously yearned for ends up detesting him - and everything he previously abhorred becomes a sweetness of soul for him.

Walking through the Franciscan Sources, a chisel of events and of the Saint's deep and solid vocation, we read:

"Many, nobles and plebeians, clerics and laymen, docile to divine inspiration, came to the Saint, yearning to stand forever with him and under his guidance.

And to all he, as a rich spring of heavenly grace, bestows the life-giving waters that make the virtues blossom in the garden of the heart.

A truly glorious artist and teacher of the evangelical life: through his example, his Rule and his teaching, the Church of Christ is renewed in her faithful, men and women, and the threefold militia of the elect triumphs" (FF 384).

We also learn that 'he became a herald of the Gospel. He began, in fact, 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 [...] 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).

The Poor Man of Assisi had known how to 'traffic' his mines, received to reach as many souls as possible through the power of the Spirit of God and make known the salvific value of the Word made flesh.

«I tell you that to everyone who has will be given, but from him who does not have will be taken away even what he has» (Lk 19:26)

Wednesday, 33rd wk. in O.T.  (Lk 19:11-28)

The beginning of Luke chapter nineteen recounts the conversion of Zacchaeus. A change of heart that had led him to return four times what he had stolen from the poor.

Thus, by receiving the Lord, salvation had found a home in his house.

Francis, like Zacchaeus, was also small in stature and wanted to see Jesus.

He had climbed the sycamore of his false securities, and Jesus tells him to come down from the world of self-will and climb the hill of evangelical freedom, giving what he had to the poor.

The moment he met Christ, he realised that salvation, the clarity of living, had entered his inner house.

The Sources document these interesting historical events:

"Since, however, as the whole of Scripture says: «When a man is finished, then he begins, and when he is consummated, he will work» - one saw his spirit become more ready in his infirm flesh.

So vivid was his love for the salvation of souls, and his thirst to win them to God, that, no longer having the strength to walk, he rode out into the countryside on a donkey.

Often his brethren, with sweet insistence, invited him to restore his infirm and too weak body a little with medical care, but he, whose spirit was continually turned to heaven, declined the invitation each time, since he only wished to be untied from his body to be with Christ" (FF 490).

And again: 'For he said that nothing is more important than the salvation of souls, and he proved this very often by the fact that the only-begotten of God deigned to hang on the cross for souls [...].

He did not consider himself a Friend of Christ if he did not love the souls He loved' (FF 758).

Saved, he sought to save; healed, he wanted to heal!

«Zacchaeus, hasten down, for today I must remain in your house» (Lk 19:5b)

Tuesday 33rd wk in O.T.  (Lk 19,1-10)