Homily (Reflection) for the Memorial
of Saint Clare, V., (11th August, 2017) on the Gospel and the
Memorial
(Friday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary
Time (I))
Deut 4:32-40;
Ps 76:12-16.21. (R. v. 12);Matt 16:24-28.
Saint
Clare of Assisi (16th July, 1194 – 11th August, 1253) was
born in Assisi as Chiara Offreduccio. The preaching of Saint Francis of Assisi
during Lent when she was 18 made her sought for his guidance. She joined the
convent of the Benedictine nuns of San Paulo, near Bastia, under Francis’
orders. Her father tried unsuccessfully to force her back into his home. Other
women who desired to be brides of Jesus later joined her and were known as the “Poor
Ladies of San Damiano”. They lived a simple life of austerity, seclusion, and
poverty, according to a Rule which Francis gave them as a Second Order. They wore
no shoes, ate no meat, lived in a poor house, and kept silent most of the time.
Their lives consisted of manual labour and prayer. The city of Assisi was
protected from the attack of an army of rough soldiers from Frederick II in
1224 through her intercession before the Blessed Sacrament. At Pope Innocent's
request, her process of canonization began immediately after her death. She was
canonized as Saint Clare of Assisi in 1255 by Pope Alexander IV. The Order of
Poor Ladies was officially changed to the Order of Saint Clare in 1263 by Pope
Urban IV. She is the patron saint of television, eye disease, goldsmiths, and
laundry.[1]
Topic: Behind the cross.
In today’s gospel, Jesus said to His disciples,
If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves
and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life
will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.
Cross in general has very scaring face and many find it very
difficult looking beyond the scaring face. However, behind the cross is the
glory to be revealed, cf. 1Pt 1:5; 5:1.
Hence Saint Paul writes, “I consider that the sufferings of this present time
are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Rom 8:18). Again, “I suffer as I do.
But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am sure that he is
able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me” (2Tim 1:12).
As one runs away from cross, let us remember Christ’s
warning, “He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this
world will keep it for eternal life” (Jn
12:25). To be with Christ, one must carry his/her own cross. Saint Clare we
celebrate today understood this very well. She followed Jesus without leaving her
cross behind. We ought to remember always, “the word of the cross is folly to
those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God”
(1Cor 1:18).
Bible Reading: 1Pt 4:12-19.
Thought for today: Glorification follows suffering with Christ, cf. Rom 8:17.
Let us pray: May God help us see beyond the
scaring face of the cross – Amen.
Saint Clare – Pray for us.
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