The «Woe» pronounced by Jesus in Matthew's Gospel continues.
He lashes out at rampant hypocrisy, rebuking the care of the exterior that clashes with the sooty interior.
Let us look at the life of the Poor Man through the Sources and on the merits.
Francis detested the hypocrisy reproached by Jesus to the scribes and Pharisees, and he was careful not to cultivate it in any form.
Even when illness forced him to slacken his fasts to regain his strength, he would then denounce everything before the people, openly, to earn contempt.
In fact, in the Major Legend it is written:
"It was a demonstration of perfect humility, which teaches the follower of Christ the need to despise praise and passing praise, to repress the pomp and arrogance of ostentation and to expose the fraudulent lies of hypocrisy" (FF 1104).
One day to a friar who showed a sad face he said:
"«The servant of God must not show himself to others sad and gloomy, but always serene. To your sins, reflect in your room and in the presence of God weep and wail. But when you return among the brothers, leave sadness behind and conform to others»" (FF 712).
Francis was a lover of truth, abhorring all greed and intemperance.
He looked to the Father who is in heaven and expects justice, fidelity and mercy from everyone.
«Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you pay the tithe of mint and dill […] and betwixt the weightier [points] of the Law: judgement and mercy and faithfulness» (Mt 23:23).
Tuesday of the 21st wk. in O.T. (Mt 23,23-26)
