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.
As the Blessed Mother was the truest disciple of Jesus, Saint Clare was the truest follower of Saint Francis. Especially after he died, when the order of men was thrown into confusion without a charismatic leader, the bedridden woman in her convent below Assisi remained as a shining example of true, Franciscan poverty.
Today's gospel invites us to become like children. This teaching describes the life of the Franciscan friar, sister, or tertiary. In a world where adult men and women ordinarily "work for a living," Franciscans rely on alms.
Many of us, like this blogger, earn generous salaries in government or teaching positions. Many collect decent wages from pastoral work. But, especially as we age, most of us do not earn a "living wage" by this world's standards. Very often we live in the aegis of non-profit, religious organizations like retreat centers, hospitals, and schools.
Few, if any, of us take fancy vacations; our young visit family and the elderly prefer staycations. We do not rely on free medical care from Catholic doctors, hospitals, and nursing homes as we did forty years ago. Mostly we live like children in their parents' home -- by the donations of generous benefactors -- even as we support our foreign missionaries, and sponsor young friars and sisters through their education and formation.
Saint Clare made only one demand of the Church; she insisted upon the Privilege of Poverty. In the thirteenth century, religious women lived in cloistered monasteries with extensive estates. These monasteries were like small cities, maintained by peasants who worked the farms and defended the properties. No one could imagine a convent of women with no more land than an enclosed flower garden. How would they survive? Who would protect them?
Clare and her sisters prayed for the local community, receiving their daily requests for prayers; and the Assisans provided for their modest physical needs. It was a life without luxury and they sometimes went hungry. When an invading army passed through the area, terrified citizens watched from the high walls of Assisi as the Saracens bypassed the defenseless women and went on their way! The Lord was their shield and defender!
Clare repeatedly petitioned a series of popes for a written document ensuring her perpetual Privilege of Poverty. Finally, on the day before she died in 1253, the document arrived, signed by Pope Innocent IV.
Franciscans of every stripe remind the world that all humankind still relies on God. In this Anthropocene age when it seems that "man" has created the world, climate change and Covid-19 tell us we have not created it well. Doing things our way doesn't work for us. Children of the Earth turn to God to guide and teach us how to live wisely.
No comments:
Post a Comment
I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.