Memorial of St. Clare of Assisi, virgin
(Ezekiel 2:8-3:4; Matthew 18:1-5.10.12-14)
Jesus’ teaching in today’s gospel was institutionalized
by St. Clare of Assisi. Asked who is the
greatest in God’s kingdom, Jesus answers, in effect, the least of all. He means that those who serve humbly most
conform to God’s blessed. Those who use
their positions to take advantage of others, on the other hand, have lost their
way. Jesus gives as a model a child who seen
and not heard is also subservient to her parents. He is exhorting his disciples to work as
earnestly as this little one for their heavenly father.
With the help of St. Francis, Clare started a monastery
to pray for Franciscan friars. She
intended that the monastery break from the custom of the day. It embraced women from all societal levels,
allowed every member to participate in its governance, altered the tradition of
monastic enclosure, and described the role of abbess as that of sister and
servant. Like St. Francis and like
Jesus, she did not intend that her followers dominate one another.
It is sometimes said that in the Catholic Church, the
laity are only to “pray, pay, and obey.”
To the extent that this is true, it is anti-evangelical. Of course, everyone is to pray and to obey
the will of God. Likewise, we all should
pay -- whether with money, time, or services.
But we are also to support one another in the discipleship of Jesus. This applies to laity helping clerics as well
as other laity. We encourage one another
to live the gospel as Clare and Francis exhorted their followers.
