In today's Gospel, Jesus teaches his disciples about humility and the greatness of serving: simply doing what we are commanded.

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 dominate, 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).

"When you have done all that you have been commanded, say:

"We are servants of no account. We have done what we had to do" (Lk 17:10).

And Clare herself, enclosed within the Damianite walls, offered in simplicity to her sisters the testimony 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 barely gave any orders: but she did them spontaneously, preferring to carry them out herself rather than command her sisters" (FF 3180).

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

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

Tuesday, 32nd wk. in O.T. (Lk 17:7-10)

Jesus emphasises the necessary forgiveness to be offered to the brother who has done wrong.

Francis had many special qualities, but excelled in one: the stable and solid memory of divine Mercy bending over him, to the point of condoning all the errors of his past life.

He had experienced the fatherhood and motherhood of God, absorbed in those bowels of mercy that had visited and healed him inwardly.

For him, pity and forgiveness - as well as taking back, where necessary - were basic attitudes in the fraternal journey.

By now he carried carved in his heart Jesus' answer to Peter's question: how often to grant forgiveness.

The Lord answered him: "I say to you not seven times, but seventy times seven" (Mt 18:22). As if to say: "always".

Francis of Assisi, in a passage from his Letter to a Minister, explains well the continuous readiness to forgive, and to begin again without tiring. The accents are moving.

"I tell you [...] that those things that are an impediment to you in loving the Lord God, and every person who will be an obstacle to you [...] all this you must hold as a grace [...] And love those who act with you in this way [...]" (FF 234).

Again: "And in this I want to know if you love the Lord and love me his servant and yours, if you will act in this way, namely: that there be no brother in the world, who has sinned, as much as it is possible to sin, who, after he has seen your eyes, does not go away without your forgiveness, if he asks for it; and if he does not ask forgiveness, you ask him if he wants to be forgiven. And if, afterwards, he sins a thousand times before your eyes, love him more than me for this: that you may draw him to the Lord; and always have mercy on such brothers" (FF 235).

The letter, a true jewel among those written by the Poverello, continues:

"If any of the brothers, at the instigation of the enemy, has mortally sinned, he is bound by obedience to have recourse to his guardian. And all the brothers who know of his sin, let them not shame him nor speak ill of him, but have great mercy on him and keep their brother's sin a great secret, because not the healthy need a doctor, but the sick" (FF 237).

"If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him" (Lk 17:3).

Monday 32nd wk. in O.T. (Lk 17,1-6)

Francis, the Minor of Assisi, detested appearances and was convinced that to give all one has to live is to give back to the Lord what is his.

In the Sources we read:

"He was once asked how he could, in such light clothing, defend himself from the rigours of winter.

Full of spiritual fervour, he replied:

"If our hearts burned for the desire of the heavenly homeland, we would easily endure this external cold".

He had a horror of soft clothes, preferred rough ones, and claimed that, precisely because of his rough clothes, John the Baptist had been praised by the very mouth of God.

If by chance they gave him a cassock, which seemed soft to him, he would weave it inside with ropes, saying: soft garments, according to the Word of Truth, are to be sought not in the huts of the poor, but in the palaces of princes.

He had learnt from certain experience that demons are frightened by harshness, while from softness and delicacy they take courage to try more boldly (FF 1088).

And Clare, little plant of the seraphic father, in a letter to his beloved spiritual daughter, Agnes of Prague, we hear her say:

"Surely you know [...] that the Lord promises the Kingdom of heaven and gives it only to the poor, because when one loves temporal things one loses the fruit of charity; and that it is not possible to serve God and Mammon, because one either loves the one and hates the other or serves the latter and despises the former [...] Therefore you have thrown away superfluous garments, that is, earthly riches" (FF 2867).

Clare, following the example of Francis, had thrown into the common treasure the trifles of her earthly existence in the service of her neighbour.

"And when a poor widow came, she threw in two pennies [...] her entire livelihood" (Mk 12:42, 44).

32nd Sunday B (Mk 12:38-44)

Jesus drove the sellers out of the temple and emphasised not to make his Father's house a market place.

Francis was as zealous for the Lord and his will as he was for all the churches around the world.

He wanted them respected for what they are and represent; he did not want to know about turning them into what God is not.

This even though Jesus had made it clear to him that his zeal was for the Church, the assembly of believers, the living temple of Christ.

In the Sources:

"He had no blush to ask the small things of those smaller than himself; he the true lesser, who had learned from the Supreme Master the greater things.

He used to seek with singular zeal the way and manner of serving God more perfectly, as it pleased Him best' (FF 1205).

Moreover: "Truly with joyful devotion he wandered among the heavenly abodes, and in complete self-abasement, he dwelt as if hidden in the wounds of the Saviour [...].

His safe haven was prayer, not of a few minutes, or empty, or pretentious, but deeply devout, humble and prolonged as much as possible" (FF 445).

But with regard to the reparation of S. Damiano:

"It is this place where St Francis, guided by divine revelation, began the Order of Friars Minor.

Precisely by the disposition of divine Providence, which directed him in all things, the servant of Christ had materially restored three churches before founding the Order and devoting himself to preaching the Gospel [...].

For just as three buildings were repaired, so, under the guidance of this holy man, the Church was to be renewed in three ways: according to the form of life, according to the Rule and according to the doctrine of Christ which he proposed" (FF 1050).

He had taught his brothers to recite this prayer near every church they encountered, adoring the Almighty:

"We adore you, O Christ, in all your churches [...]" (FF 401).

The zeal for the house of God devoured him.

"Take these things away from here, and do not make my Father's house a marketplace" (Jn 2:16b).

Dedication of the Lateran Basilica (Jn 2:13-22)

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)

To those who murmured to Him, Jesus responds with the parable of the lost sheep and the lost coin.

There are many passages in the Franciscan Sources that highlight Francis' compassion and joy for others.

In this Franciscan treasure chest, we read that "God, in fact, had infused in the soul of the young Francis a feeling of generous compassion, which, growing with him [...] had filled his heart with goodness; so much so that even then, not deaf to the Gospel, he proposed to give to anyone who asked him, especially if he asked for the love of God" (FF 1028).

(FF 1028) Again: "And because fear makes one understand the lesson, the hand of the Lord came upon him [...] struck his body with a long infirmity [...]".

When he had regained his physical strength, he procured, as was his custom, decent clothes.

Once he met a knight, noble but poor and badly dressed, and, pitying his misery with affectionate pity, he immediately undressed and made the other put on his clothes.

Thus, with a single gesture, he performed a twofold act of pity, for he hid the shame of a noble knight and relieved the misery of a poor man" (FF 1030).

"What man among you having a hundred sheep and having lost one of them does not abandon the ninety-nine in the wilderness and set out for the lost one until he has found it?" (Lk 15:4).

Thursday of the 31st wk. in O.T. (Lk 15:1-10)

Jesus speaks in the Gospel of renouncing all possessions in order to become a true disciple of Him.

Francis, in order to follow in Christ's footsteps, renounced his wealthy position, all possessions, because he had found so much more: Christ, for Whom he espoused Lady Poverty, embraced by the very Son of God.

We find special references in the Sources.

"On the advice of the bishop of the city, a very pious man, who did not think it right to use ill-gotten money for sacred purposes, the man of God returned to his father the sum, which he wanted to spend on the restoration of the church.

And in front of many who had gathered there and were listening:

"From now on," he exclaimed, "I will be able to say freely: Our Father, who art in heaven, not Father Peter Bernardone. Behold, I will not only give him back his money, but I will also give him back all his clothes. Thus, I will go naked to meet the Lord'.

O noble soul of a man, to whom Christ alone suffices!

They then realised that the man of God, under his robes, wore the cilizium, joyful not so much to appear as to be virtuous" (FF 597).

Moreover, "he taught, having learned it by revelation, that the first step in holy religion is to realise that word of the Gospel: 'If you want to be perfect, go, sell everything you have and give it to the poor'.

Therefore he only admitted to the Order those who had renounced property and kept absolutely nothing for themselves.

This is what she did, in homage to the Word of the Gospel; but also to avoid the scandal of private purses" (FF 1121).

Clare herself, of noble origins, had renounced all possessions and relatives in order to follow Christ in the footsteps of Francis.

Indeed, in her Testament she says:

"After the Most High Heavenly Father had deigned, by his mercy and grace, to enlighten my heart so that I might begin to do penance, following the example and teaching of our most blessed Father Francis, a short time after his conversion, I, together with the few sisters whom the Lord had given me a short time after my conversion, freely promised him obedience, in conformity with the inspiration that the Lord had communicated to us through his praiseworthy life and teaching" (FF 2831).

They considered everything rubbish before the sublime knowledge of Christ.

Wednesday 31st wk. in O.T. (Lk 14:25-33)

Luke tells the parable of the great banquet, of those who, having been invited to a wedding, do not prove worthy of the opportunity they have received.

Hence the host's choice to welcome to dinner the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame found at the crossroads.

Significantly, we find in the Sources that Francis, in love with Our Lady Poverty, insistently invited her to take food with the brothers [cf. Sacrum Commercium Beati Francisci cum Domina Paupertate].

The Saint had well understood that the Queen of the table was the one who shone in a special way in the derelict, in those who were forced to the margins of society, but sensitive to the invitation.

We read in fact:

"Then they led her to the place where the table was prepared. As she arrived, she looked around and, seeing nothing but three or four loaves of barley bread and bran placed on the grass, she was seized with great admiration" (FF 2020).

Then "he commanded them all to be together and spoke words of life to them, saying:

"Be blessed, my children, by the Lord God who created the heavens and the earth, for you have welcomed me into your home with such fullness of charity, that today, being with you, it seemed to me that I was in the paradise of the Lord [...].

Here is what I have sought so much, now I contemplate it [...] because on earth I have united myself with men who are for me the faithful image of Him who is my spouse in heaven.

May the Lord bless your courage and praise the work of your hands" (FF 2024).

Called and elected [in the company of Our Lady Poverty] to follow in the footsteps of the Son of God.

Clare herself, in her Spiritual Testament, a true Franciscan pearl, addresses her present and future daughters, inviting them to guard the priceless treasure of election.

We read:

"Among the other benefits we have received and daily receive from our Donor, the Father of Mercies, for which we are greatly obliged to render to Him glorious living acts of grace, great is that of our vocation. And the greater and more perfect it is, the more we are obliged to him.

Therefore the Apostle admonishes: 'Know your vocation well'" (FF 2823).

Again:

"The Son of God became our Way; and this by word and example our blessed father Francis, a true lover and imitator of Him, showed and taught us" (FF 2824).

At this point Clare recalls when the Saint, under divine inspiration, prophesied about them. 

"Having climbed over the wall of the said church [...] he addressed some poor people who were standing nearby:

"Come and help me in this work of the monastery of St Damian, for soon women will come to inhabit it, and by the fame of the holiness of their lives glory will be rendered to our heavenly Father throughout his holy Church".

We can, therefore, admire in this fact the great goodness of God towards us: he has deigned, in his superabundant mercy and charity, to inspire such words to his Saint concerning our vocation and election" (FF 2827-2828).

"Go out early into the squares and alleys of the city and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame" (Lk 14:21b).

Tuesday 31st wk. in O.T. (Lk 14:15-24)

Jesus exhorts the onlookers not to invite relatives and friends to lunch or dinner, but those who cannot reciprocate: the poor!

This is true beatitude!

The Poverello of Assisi insistently invited Our Lady Poverty to take food with the brothers [cf. Sacrum Commercium Beati Francisci cum Domina Paupertate]:

"Then they led her to the place where the table was prepared. As she arrived she looked around and, seeing nothing but three or four loaves of barley bread and bran placed on the grass, was seized with great admiration" (FF 2020).

Then "he commanded them all to be together and spoke words of life to them, saying:

"Be blessed, my children, by the Lord God who created the heavens and the earth, because you have welcomed me into your home with such fullness of charity, that today, being with you, it seemed to me as if I were in the paradise of the Lord [...] This is what I have sought so much, now I contemplate it [...] because on earth I am united with men who are for me the faithful image of Him who is my spouse in heaven. May the Lord bless your courage and praise the work of your hands" (FF 2024).

Called and elected in the company of Our Lady Poverty to follow in the footsteps of the Son of God.

Clare herself, in her Spiritual Testament, a true Franciscan pearl, addresses her present and future daughters, inviting them to guard the priceless treasure of election. We read in it:

"Among the other benefits that we have received and every day receive from our Donor, the Father of Mercies, for which we are greatly obliged to render to Him glorious living deeds of grace, great is that of our vocation. And the greater and more perfect it is, the more we are obliged to him. Therefore the Apostle admonishes: 'Know your vocation well'" (FF 2823).

And again:

"The Son of God became our Way; and this by word and example our blessed father Francis, a true lover and imitator of Him, showed and taught us" (FF 2824).

At this point Clare recalls when the Saint, under divine inspiration, prophesied about them.

"Having climbed over the wall of the said church [...] and addressed some poor people who were standing near it: "Come and help me in this work of the monastery of San Damiano, because soon some women will come to live there, and by the fame of the holiness of their lives, glory will be rendered to our heavenly Father in all his holy Church".

We can, therefore, admire in this fact the great goodness of God towards us: he has deigned, in his superabundant mercy and charity, to inspire such words to his Saint concerning our vocation and election" (FF 2827-2828).

"But when you make a banquet, invite poor cripples who are lame and blind, and you will be blessed because they have nothing to spare" (Lk 14:13-14).

Monday 31st wk. in O.T. (Lk 14,12-14)