Reflection
How well do we eat and digest the Word of God? Unlike Ezekiel in our first reading, we don’t exactly eat a scroll or the pages of a book. But every day we are given passages from Scripture to nurture us and become part of our lives. Do these words satisfy our hunger for God? Do these words, quench our thirst for what we ask of God?
Today we celebrate the memorial of St. Clare of Assisi. (1193-1253) At the age of 18, her heart was filled in hearing God’s Word presented to her through the preaching of St. Francis of Assisi. Hearing God’s Word fulfilled her desire to follow and embrace the poor Christ. It would be a new way of life that she would define in her Rule for the “poor ladies” as “the privilege of poverty.”
This was a radical move from the norm for women who lived in monasteries with financial support from families, a dowry, and the Church. Clare, like Francis, emptied herself of all possessions and lived day to day relying on the providence of God. She defended her Rule of Life for the Poor Sisters to the day before she died when finally, Pope Innocent IV approved it. It was the first approved Rule written by a woman.
For both Clare and Francis, the Word Made Flesh, God, Jesus, who was born in a stable and died on a cross, was the “mirror” for their new ways of life. As Jesus embraced humanity, they recognized God within the human experience. They came to know this God more intimately through contemplation, caring for the poor and seeing creation through His eyes. The Incarnation was real as they gazed upon the crucified Christ and realized their lives transformed.
I imagine St. Clare spent time with our Gospel for today. She lived her vocation being the Word of God, for the Gospel was her way of life. Together with the women who joined her, they fed the poor and cared for the sick and lame. They met Jesus in in the Eucharist and received the nourishment they needed to be the Word Made Flesh, in their world. The Eucharist was central to their lives.
When I was about two, I was standing by my mother in a crowd of grown-ups who were talking loudly. I tugged her hand and supposedly said, “Mother, I think you had better hold me.” Like most children, I trusted my mom’s ability to protect me from danger, real or imagined. Asking her for help was the most natural thing – something many of us lose as we get older. This is the humility Jesus is talking about in today’s gospel, to admit our dependence on God and others as children do so easily.
Humble people understand that everyone from the president or the poorest of the poor is in God’s hands and we must seek His protection as I sought that of my mom when I was a toddler. Humble people understand that even when they are the fortunate recipients of great gifts that they are not in control of their lives and destinies. They credit God as the source of their achievements and try to give back to His people.
Too often we tend to forget the source of our blessings. In our individualistic tradition, some people brag that they are self-made – that they achieved success entirely on their own, that they owe nothing to others. Really? Did God not create them? Did they not have parents who sacrificed to raise them? What about teachers who guided them and a community that supported them in other ways?
When I visited Assisi, Italy I was overcome by the presence of God. The entire town exudes a holiness that I have not encountered in any other place I have visited. St. Clare (incorrupt body)), St. Francis and now St. Carlo Acutis (incorrupt body) are entombed in Assisi. Their witness of total surrender to God, choosing to live a life of complete service to others and total dependence on Jesus, especially His living presence in the Eucharist, are alive in Assisi where peace abounds.
Let us humbly submit to our dependence on God as we reach up to Him for protection and comfort, be nourished daily by His Living Word and choose to serve the most vulnerable among us as we bear Christ’s presence to the world. St. Clare, pray for us.
Blessing of St. Clare
Live without fear;
Your Creator has made you holy,
has always protected you
and loves you like a mother….
May Almighty God bless you
May He look upon you with the eyes
of His Mercy and give you His peace…