Apr 1, 2025 Written by 

Disciples in the Truth

In today's Gospel Jesus announces that if we abide in his Word, we will be disciples and know the Truth that will set us free.

Francis, together with his brothers, made this statement his own and committed himself to abide in the Scripture.

He knew that the Son redeemed us to remain free in his commandments.

The Poverello well understood that the summary of them was mutual, fraternal love, to be exercised always, and for which Christ gave his life as a ransom for the multitudes.

This evangelical icon accompanied the Saint throughout his brief existence and governed his every gesture.

The truth of man met with the Truth of Christ who, on the cross, regenerated Francis.

It drew him from his cheerful and fearless life to that of the Beatitudes, structured on the identikit of Jesus.

The Minim understood that in them was hidden the Truth that liberates.

One above all: the poverty of the humble who, disengaged from themselves, relied only on God's mercy.

All this fermented at St Mary of the Angels.

The Sources are a unique collection of early experiences. Nothing can help us more than them to understand the raison d'être of Francis and his fraternity.

Celano says in the Early Life:

"And at last he called all creatures by the name of brother and sister, perceiving their secrets in an admirable way known to no one else, because he had conquered the freedom of glory reserved for the children of God.

And now in heaven he praises you with the angels, O Lord, who on earth preached you worthy of infinite love to all creatures" (FF 461).

In the Perugian Legend:

"Wherever the friars found writings with the words and names of the Lord not decently preserved or lying scattered in improper places, they should gather them up and set them aside, to honour the Lord in the words spoken by Him. For many things are sanctified through the word of God, and by virtue of the words of Christ the sacrament of the altar is brought about" (FF 1635).

Francis had at heart that his brothers be true disciples of the Word. Indeed, in the Major Legend, we read:

"I want my brothers to be disciples of the Gospel and to progress in the knowledge of the truth, so that at the same time they may grow in the purity of simplicity. Thus they will not separate the simplicity of the dove from the prudence of the serpent, which the unsurpassable Master has joined with his blessed word" (FF 1188).

But the Poverello's meekness and faithfulness to the Word of God made disciples even among the birds:

"In the city of Parma, a university student of good character, while engaged in study with some companions, annoyed by the importunate chatter of a swallow, began to say:

"This swallow must be one of those that disturbed the man of God Francis while he was once preaching, and which he silenced". Then, turning to the swallow, he said with faith:

"In the name of the servant of God Francis, I command you to come to me and be silent immediately!".

And the swallow, having heard the name of Francis, like a good disciple of the man of God, instantly fell silent and went to take refuge in the hands of the student.

Astonished, he immediately returned her to freedom: and she no longer heard his twittering" (FF 1208).

Even the swallows, much loved by Francis, in front of the Poor One who had made himself a disciple of the Word, felt the perfume of truth and conformed.

 

«If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free» (Jn 8:31)

 

 

Wednesday, 5th wk. in Lent  (Jn 8:31-42)

135 Last modified on Tuesday, 01 April 2025 04:42
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".

Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The Eucharist draws us into Jesus' act of self-oblation. More than just statically receiving the incarnate Logos, we enter into the very dynamic of his self-giving [Pope Benedict]
L'Eucaristia ci attira nell'atto oblativo di Gesù. Noi non riceviamo soltanto in modo statico il Logos incarnato, ma veniamo coinvolti nella dinamica della sua donazione [Papa Benedetto]
Jesus, the true bread of life that satisfies our hunger for meaning and for truth, cannot be “earned” with human work; he comes to us only as a gift of God’s love, as a work of God (Pope Benedict)
Gesù, vero pane di vita che sazia la nostra fame di senso, di verità, non si può «guadagnare» con il lavoro umano; viene a noi soltanto come dono dell’amore di Dio, come opera di Dio (Papa Benedetto)
Jesus, who shared his quality as a "stone" in Simon, also communicates to him his mission as a "shepherd". It is a communication that implies an intimate communion, which also transpires from the formulation of Jesus: "Feed my lambs... my sheep"; as he had already said: "On this rock I will build my Church" (Mt 16:18). The Church is property of Christ, not of Peter. Lambs and sheep belong to Christ, and to no one else (Pope John Paul II)
Gesù, che ha partecipato a Simone la sua qualità di “pietra”, gli comunica anche la sua missione di “pastore”. È una comunicazione che implica una comunione intima, che traspare anche dalla formulazione di Gesù: “Pasci i miei agnelli… le mie pecorelle”; come aveva già detto: “Su questa pietra edificherò la mia Chiesa” (Mt 16,18). La Chiesa è proprietà di Cristo, non di Pietro. Agnelli e pecorelle appartengono a Cristo, e a nessun altro (Papa Giovanni Paolo II)
Praying, celebrating, imitating Jesus: these are the three "doors" - to be opened to find «the way, to go to truth and to life» (Pope Francis)
Pregare, celebrare, imitare Gesù: sono le tre “porte” — da aprire per trovare «la via, per andare alla verità e alla vita» (Papa Francesco)
In recounting the "sign" of bread, the Evangelist emphasizes that Christ, before distributing the food, blessed it with a prayer of thanksgiving (cf. v. 11). The Greek term used is eucharistein and it refers directly to the Last Supper, though, in fact, John refers here not to the institution of the Eucharist but to the washing of the feet. The Eucharist is mentioned here in anticipation of the great symbol of the Bread of Life [Pope Benedict]
Narrando il “segno” dei pani, l’Evangelista sottolinea che Cristo, prima di distribuirli, li benedisse con una preghiera di ringraziamento (cfr v. 11). Il verbo è eucharistein, e rimanda direttamente al racconto dell’Ultima Cena, nel quale, in effetti, Giovanni non riferisce l’istituzione dell’Eucaristia, bensì la lavanda dei piedi. L’Eucaristia è qui come anticipata nel grande segno del pane della vita [Papa Benedetto]
Work is part of God’s loving plan, we are called to cultivate and care for all the goods of creation and in this way share in the work of creation! Work is fundamental to the dignity of a person. Work, to use a metaphor, “anoints” us with dignity, fills us with dignity, makes us similar to God, who has worked and still works, who always acts (cf. Jn 5:17); it gives one the ability to maintain oneself, one’s family, to contribute to the growth of one’s own nation [Pope Francis]
Il lavoro fa parte del piano di amore di Dio; noi siamo chiamati a coltivare e custodire tutti i beni della creazione e in questo modo partecipiamo all’opera della creazione! Il lavoro è un elemento fondamentale per la dignità di una persona [Papa Francesco]

Due Fuochi due Vie - Vol. 1 Due Fuochi due Vie - Vol. 2 Due Fuochi due Vie - Vol. 3 Due Fuochi due Vie - Vol. 4 Due Fuochi due Vie - Vol. 5 Dialogo e Solstizio I fiammiferi di Maria

duevie.art

don Giuseppe Nespeca

Tel. 333-1329741


Disclaimer

Questo blog non rappresenta una testata giornalistica in quanto viene aggiornato senza alcuna periodicità. Non può pertanto considerarsi un prodotto editoriale ai sensi della legge N°62 del 07/03/2001.
Le immagini sono tratte da internet, ma se il loro uso violasse diritti d'autore, lo si comunichi all'autore del blog che provvederà alla loro pronta rimozione.
L'autore dichiara di non essere responsabile dei commenti lasciati nei post. Eventuali commenti dei lettori, lesivi dell'immagine o dell'onorabilità di persone terze, il cui contenuto fosse ritenuto non idoneo alla pubblicazione verranno insindacabilmente rimossi.