Homily: Feast of St. Clare (2021)
Feast of St. Clare (2021)
St. Clare is an interesting figure. She was always overshadowed by her more popular friend St. Francis. Both saints lived in Assisi a thousand years ago. Both came from wealthy families. Both were supposed to follow their parents’ plan for their lives. Francis was destined to be a wealthy cloth merchant like his father. Clare was probably destined to be the wife of an aristocrat in Assisi.
Neither one fulfilled their parent’s wishes. Clare did not want to be part of an arranged marriage. Francis rejected the worldliness of his family. He looked around him and saw the injustice of his world. The poor were exploited and neglected. The wealthy lived in the lap of luxury.
Both began the Franciscan movement, but they represented different parts of that movement. Francis left home first and started to actively serve the poor and sick. He spent his life on the road moving from town-to-town preaching. He engaged the world and spread the gospel by his example.
Clare did not go far from home. She stayed in a house in Assisi. She led a life in community with other women. Her life was a life of contemplation. Her parents tried to drag her home, but she refused to go. If Francis was all action, Clare was all contemplation. Francis grabbed the headlines by his adventures. Clare was known for her holiness and wisdom. She did not have to seek people out and teach them about Jesus. People came to her to ask advice and learn about the spiritual life.
Their lives remind us that there that the Christian life, at its best, is a balanced life. At times we engage the world. At other times we need to withdraw and reflect. Both are necessary if we are to be faithful to the Gospel.
Reflection Questions:
- What are more important, words or actions? What would the world say?
- Do I know much about St. Clare? Was her life important to the church? Why?
Dear Parishioners,
Today, I will be spending some of my time with our Seton Teachers. They are preparing their classrooms and lesson plans for next year. The teachers and administrators will be having organizational meetings. This will be another challenging year for them. There will be continued protocols that will need to be followed.
Masks and social distancing will be part of the school day once more. The children will be in school all day. The cafeteria will be open. More of the extracurricular activities will also be restored. It is a challenging time to be a teacher. Please pray for them. They are doing a lot of active work. They need us to pray for their ministry. Please let the teachers know that you are thinking of them. I am sure they need all the encouragement they can get.
May our Lady and all the Angels and Saints watch over you today.
Fr. Mark