Mar 9, 2025 Written by 

Measure without measure

Jesus calls us to avoid all judgement, to be merciful, giving with breadth.

After his conversion, Francis had experienced that the measure of Love is not having any.

Helped by the Good Samaritan, he had learnt to give overflowingly and joyfully to anyone who asked for the love of God.

Moreover, conforming to the Word of the Gospel that invites us to be merciful, he was animated by true compassion towards all those in need, starting with lepers, whom he once repudiated.

In the Sources, a jewel of early documentation, on the subject of judgement seasoned with mercy, we read:

"Those then who have received authority to judge others, let them exercise judgement with mercy, just as they themselves wish to obtain mercy from the Lord; for judgement will be without mercy for those who have not used mercy" (FF 191 - Letter to the Faithful).

The Minim had once had a singular experience of compassion on the plain of Assisi:

"Francis, while one day he was riding near Assisi, met a leper on the road.

Of these unfortunates he felt an invincible revulsion; but this time, doing violence to his instinct, he dismounted from his horse and offered the leper a coin, kissing his hand.

And receiving a kiss of peace, he got back on his horse and continued on his way.

From that day he began to free himself from his own selfishness, to the point of knowing how to overcome himself perfectly, with God's help" (FF 1407).

This encounter revolutionised his mentality, transforming him profoundly.

He urged his companions by example to make themselves a continuous gift to every indigent person.

"Nothing they considered private property [...] they were spontaneously generous with everything that was offered to them in the name of God. They joyfully donated, for love of Him, the alms they collected, to those who asked for them, especially the poor" (FF 1450).

Salvation received gratuitously had become a yardstick for them in their relations with their neighbour.

 

«Be merciful, as your Father is merciful»

«Do not judge and you will not be judged» (Lk 6:36-37)

 

 

Monday, 2nd wk. in Lent  (Lk 6:36-38)

240 Last modified on Sunday, 09 March 2025 04:04
Teresa Girolami

Teresa Girolami è laureata in Materie letterarie e Teologia. Ha pubblicato vari testi, fra cui: "Pellegrinaggio del cuore" (Ed. Piemme); "I Fiammiferi di Maria - La Madre di Dio in prosa e poesia"; "Tenerezza Scalza - Natura di donna"; co-autrice di "Dialogo e Solstizio".

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