Memorial of Saint Clare, Virgin
(Ezekiel 2:8-3:4; Matthew 18:1-5.10.12-14)
“Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?” This sounds
like a question people today would ask. Superbowl
champions, World Cup winners, Academy Award recipients – these are the greatest
in the world today. But who is the
greatest before God?
Jesus gives a surprising answer. The greatest is not a figure like Peter who
recognized Jesus as the Son of God. Rather
the greatest is more like St. Clare whom the Church remembers today. Clare became “humble, like this child” as she
imitated Francis, “il poverello.” Both these great saints personified humility,
not only because they lived simply but also because they recognized goodness in
others. They found worth even in those
who might be considered the dregs of humanity.
This lesson might be drawn from the gospel parable.
We recall that the “Parable of the Lost Sheep” is found in
the Gospel of Luke as well as that of Matthew.
In Luke it is introduces chapter 15, which leads to the “Parable of the Prodigal
Son.” The parable is misnamed, of
course, because it is really about the prodigal love of the father representing
God Himself. Matthew, however, focuses
more on the lost sheep who is worth the risk of losing ninety-nine to find.
Today the lost sheep include our friends and relatives who
no longer come to church. They have
settled for striving to be great in the world.
That is, they work to satisfy their desire for money, pleasure,
prestige, and power. We call them back
to church by telling them of their goodness and bidding them to thank God for
who they are.
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