Monday of the 19th week in ordinary time

Deut. 10: 12-22    Mathew 17: 22-27

Theme: Holiness of life

The church celebrates the memorial of St. Clare today, a virgin, religious and the foundress of a female religious order, known as “The order of poor ladies”. After her death, the order changed its name to the order of St. Clare, to honour her. She lived an austere life, and this reflected in all that she did in her daily life. Today as we celebrate her memorial, it is an opportunity for us to remind ourselves about the need for us to embrace purity and holiness of life, just like St. Clare did. She was an upright and devoted Christian, and she was also very prayerful.

There is this popular story about St. Clare. When Frederick 11 sent soldiers to attack Assisi. Clare courageously went out to meet the soldiers that came to attack them, holding the blessed sacrament in her hand. She placed the Blessed Sacrament where they can see it and went on her knees to pray for Gods protection for the sisters. We are told that a voice seems to answer her prayer and said, “I will keep them always in my care”, the attackers were struck with freight, and they fled, and the sisters were saved. This is what our faith can do for us in times of difficulty and the challenges of life. It is important to point out the fact that what worked of saint Clare in this situation was both her faith and good works. A combination of both is what we need in our lives as children of God.

This is made active in the 1st reading of today from the Book of Deuteronomy, when Moses tells the Israelites what is expected from them. The people were asked to walk in the ways of God, serve the Lord with all their heart and soul, and keep to the commandments and statutes of the Lord. All these admonitions we see in the life of St. Clare, whose feast we celebrate today. In the same way, we are all encouraged to emulate the lifestyle of St. Clare in our daily lives and become true ambassadors for Christ wherever we find ourselves in life. There is no better time for us to make that bold step of faith and begin to practice it in our daily lives. As you strive to do this, through the intercession of St. Clare, may almighty God bless you in the name of the father and of the son and of the holy spirit, Amen. Peace be with you.