Memorial of Saint Clare, virgin
(Deuteronomy 4:32-40; Matthew 16:24-28)
The famous quote in this morning’s newspaper read: “Everyone
says that they want to live to old age, but no one wants to say that they are
old.” People not only want to live a
long time but also to enjoy the sweet things of life. However, according to Jesus, they can go
about it in the wrong way.
In today’s gospel Jesus states clearly, “Whoever wishes to
save his life will lose it.” By “saving his life” he means living for oneself. Jesus recognizes that a good life requires
one to make sacrifices of love for others.
He describes this kind of love with the prism of his own
experience. One must take up his or her cross
as he will do shortly.
Our increasingly secular society may not notice our making
sacrifices of love. Yet we must not
deceive ourselves. We cannot have a good
life without them. Certainly St. Clare
recognized this truth as she pledged herself to prayer and poverty along with
St. Francis of Assisi. Living a life of
sacrifice for others is a constant struggle.
Fortunately we have saints like Clare to emulate and to pray for us.
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