Author: admin

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Matthew 19: 27-29

Peter said to Jesus,
“We have given up everything and followed you.
What will there be for us?”
Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you
that you who have followed me, in the new age,
when the Son of Man is seated on his throne of glory,
will yourselves sit on twelve thrones,
judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters
or father or mother or children or lands
for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more,
and will inherit eternal life.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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Who do you know more about, Saint Francis of Assisi or Saint Clare?

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Most of us would probably say, “Saint Francis of Assisi.”

He was a lover of animals; he started the Franciscans; he was an itinerant preacher; he lived in Italy; and he wrote that fabulous prayer, “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.”

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But what about Saint Clare? Who was she?

Both Francis and Clare were born into wealthy Italian families. Both jettisoned their fortunes to follow the Lord. Both are considered Saints. They were also best friends.

Clare was drawn to Francis’ deep spirit and jovial nature. In fact, they became so close that Clare founded a second order of the Franciscans, the Poor Clares.

To this day, both religious orders remain active around the world, some 800 years after their founding.

But what draws me to Saint Clare is the fact that, unlike Francis, she’s largely forgotten. 

Although they were very close friends; although they both helped rebuild and reform the Church; although they both made incredible sacrifices to follow the Lord, Francis receives most of the recognition.

And for Claire, that was okay. She didn’t need the spotlight; so long as God was glorified.

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Claire reminds us that every Christian should seek to build the Kingdom of God in two ways, through humility and friendship. 

Find people who bring out the best in us, who challenge us to become better, more humble servants, who sanctify our spirit much like Francis did for Clare. 

Do I have such a friend? And, more importantly, can I be such a friend?

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Image credits: (1) Goodnet.org (2) Franciscan Media (3) woman’s day

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Gospel: Matthew 18: 1-5, 10-14

The disciples approached Jesus and said,
“Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?”
He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said,
“Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children,
you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven.
Whoever becomes humble like this child
is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.
And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me.

“See that you do not despise one of these little ones,
for I say to you that their angels in heaven
always look upon the face of my heavenly Father.
What is your opinion?
If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray,
will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills
and go in search of the stray?
And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it
than over the ninety-nine that did not stray. 
In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father
that one of these little ones be lost.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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It’s not the shepherd’s fault that this sheep wandered off. But he’s the one who pays the price.

This shepherd travels over mountains, through valleys, thickets and woods, looking for his lost sheep.

Wandering alone into the woods was risky, certainly as night fell. There could’ve been thieves, robbers, or other creatures lurking in the darkness, waiting to pounce on him.

Still, this shepherd risks his life in order to save another. 

That’s the goodness of God, who freely offers himself for us, who’ve wandered off into the darkness for one reason or another.

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Notice what happens when the shepherd finds his sheep: a common practice would’ve been to break its legs in order to prevent it from wandering off again.

But this shepherd just picks his sheep up, puts it on his shoulders, and gives it a free ride home. 

The sheep isn’t punished for wandering off; it’s embraced when found. 

Its dignity remains intact.

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Similarly, there isn’t anything God won’t do in order to seek us out. 

And when he finds us, the Lord doesn’t punish us for wandering off; he doesn’t break our legs. He puts us on his shoulders, offering us a free ride home, back to the Church, where we belong. 

Our dignity remains intact.

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Whenever we feel lost or need to be found, simply call on the Lord until you feel his embrace.

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Image credits: (1) embracedbyGod.org (2) Pinterest (3) Million Minutes

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Gospel: Matthew 17: 22-27

As Jesus and his disciples were gathering in Galilee,
Jesus said to them,
“The Son of Man is to be handed over to men,
and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day.”
And they were overwhelmed with grief.

When they came to Capernaum,
the collectors of the temple tax approached Peter and said,
“Does not your teacher pay the temple tax?”
“Yes,” he said. 
When he came into the house, before he had time to speak,
Jesus asked him, “What is your opinion, Simon?
From whom do the kings of the earth take tolls or census tax?
From their subjects or from foreigners?”
When he said, “From foreigners,” Jesus said to him,
“Then the subjects are exempt.
But that we may not offend them, go to the sea, drop in a hook,
and take the first fish that comes up. 
Open its mouth and you will find a coin worth twice the temple tax.
Give that to them for me and for you.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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“And they were overwhelmed with grief.”

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Jesus has just told his disciples – once again – the greatest news ever told. “The Son of Man…will be raised on the third day!”

Why, then, are they “overwhelmed with grief?” Where’s the bad news in that???

The disciples seemed to have missed all that Jesus told them; they focused on what he said before the promise of the resurrection. Prior to being raised, Jesus must be killed. 

That’s what caused their grief.

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Often, we have similar reactions when faced with bad news or grief. 

We lose our job; we’re rejected from our top college; a relationship ends; a loved one returns to the Lord.

Bad things happen and, like the disciples, we sit and wonder why Jesus would allow it. Fear and disappointment fill our hearts to the point that we stop believing there’s life – or good things – to come. 

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Jesus wasn’t blind to the disciples’ disappointment or lack of faith. But he continued moving towards Jerusalem – towards his cross – anyways, because he hoped that after witnessing his resurrection that they would come to believe.

It wasn’t easy. Jesus had to appear to them for “forty days and forty nights” in order to transform their hearts, lifting them out of the valley of disbelief and grief.

But eventually, they came back to life. Then the disciples went off to change the world.

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Perhaps we can all learn from their story. When we feel “overwhelmed by grief,” remember that there is life beyond that moment, even if we cannot see it. 

Faith is trusting that God is with us – and will always bring us from darkness into light.

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Image credits: (1) Looking Beyond Competition, LinkedIn (2) Christ Carrying the Cross, Giorgione and Titian, Prado (3) Pure in Heart America