Memorial of Saint Clare, Virgin
Alternate for the Proper of the Memorial of St. Clare
Readings for Tuesday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Readings and Commentary:[3]
Reading 1: Deuteronomy 31:1-8
When Moses had finished speaking to all Israel, he said to them,
“I am now one hundred and twenty years old
and am no longer able to move about freely;
besides, the LORD has told me that I shall not cross this Jordan.
It is the LORD, your God, who will cross before you;
he will destroy these nations before you,
that you may supplant them.
It is Joshua who will cross before you, as the LORD promised.
The LORD will deal with them just as he dealt with Sihon and Og,
the kings of the Amorites whom he destroyed,
and with their country.
When, therefore, the LORD delivers them up to you,
you must deal with them exactly as I have ordered you.
Be brave and steadfast; have no fear or dread of them,
for it is the LORD, your God, who marches with you;
he will never fail you or forsake you.”
Then Moses summoned Joshua and in the presence of all Israel
said to him, “Be brave and steadfast,
for you must bring this people into the land
which the LORD swore to their fathers he would give them;
you must put them in possession of their heritage.
It is the LORD who marches before you;
he will be with you and will never fail you or forsake you.
So do not fear or be dismayed.”
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Dt 31:1-8
In this passage from Deuteronomy, Moses passes the leadership of the Children of Israel to Joshua. Because of Moses’ long standing image as the one who could speak face to face with God and because he was told that he would not lead them on this final part of the journey, he tells the Israelites that God Himself will lead them into the land that was promised to them. In the final section Moses places the mantel of leadership on Joshua. He enjoins him to be “brave and steadfast” since he must lead the people to the fulfillment of God’s promise.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Responsorial Psalm: Deuteronomy 32:3-4ab, 7, 8, 9 and 12
R. (9a) The portion of the Lord is his people.
For I will sing the LORD’s renown.
Oh, proclaim the greatness of our God!
The Rock–how faultless are his deeds,
how right all his ways!
R. The portion of the Lord is his people.
Think back on the days of old,
reflect on the years of age upon age.
Ask your father and he will inform you,
ask your elders and they will tell you.
R. The portion of the Lord is his people.
When the Most High assigned the nations their heritage,
when he parceled out the descendants of Adam,
He set up the boundaries of the peoples
after the number of the sons of Israel.
R. The portion of the Lord is his people.
While the LORD’s own portion was Jacob,
his hereditary share was Israel.
The LORD alone was their leader,
no strange god was with him.
R. The portion of the Lord is his people.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Dt 32:3-4ab, 7, 8, 9 and 12
In this psalm of praise for God’s salvation we hear the pledge of Moses again, that God himself would lead them into the land promised to the Children of Israel (who was once named Jacob).
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gospel: Matthew 18:1-5, 10, 12-14
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.”
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Mt 18:1-5, 10, 12-14
Jesus, in this selection from St. Matthew’s Gospel, summarizes what is known as “church order”. It is called this because, in response to the question “who will be greatest in the Kingdom of heaven”, Jesus refutes the rank and privilege of the secular world and indicates that those whose faith is like a small child will find greatness in heaven. He goes on to remind them that angles of God watch over these children and that there is no greater sin than leading a child to sin. Nor is there a greater duty than seeking a child who is lost (to sin).
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reflection:
Imagine standing among the ranks of the Saints in God’s Heavenly Kingdom. All of the faithful are lined up, rank upon endless rank of the great faithful of our history. There at the very pinnacle of the worshiping ranks is the most humble child, completely oblivious to the honor, focused only upon the loving face of the Lord. Behind that innocent child in descending order are those greats of the faith that could not find complete release from the worldly titles and honors of the society left behind on earth. The one who valued those honors most would stand at the very back of those ranks, the Lord barely visible in the distance yearned to be crossed.
It is this innocence the Lord holds up in St. Matthew’s Gospel. It is the ability to cast aside the rational view, the practical attitudes, and the secular shrewdness the Lord sees as necessary in order for us to attain the spiritual strength he calls his faithful to accept.
How easy the yoke but how difficult the acceptance. The very attitudes we must set aside are those that some might call “survival instincts” in the secular world. Some, like the Poor Clares whose founder St. Clare of Assisi we memorialize today, saw the need to remove themselves from all the material possessions of world, desiring no ownership whatsoever. In this way they would not be tempted to accept the mantle of secular success but would attain that innocence demanded by the Lord.
For those of us who remain part of the world it is much more difficult to achieve and retain that singular focus on Christ. All of us cannot forego the material things of the world. We must use our God-given gifts to provide for ourselves and our families as best we can. In a sense that responsibility is lost innocence, however, we overcome it by a constant effort to seek Christ even as we labor.
We ask St. Clare to pray for us on this, her day. We pray that while we must make our way in the world, let us not be seduced by material wealth, but rather seek the spiritual wealth of God’s Heavenly Kingdom.
Pax
[1] ALTRE
[2] The picture is “Eleazar commissioning Joshua” by Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld, 1851-60
[3] Text of Readings is taken from the New American Bible, Copyright © Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 1973, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved.
Alternate for the Proper of the Memorial of St. Clare
Readings for Tuesday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Readings and Commentary:[3]
Reading 1: Deuteronomy 31:1-8
When Moses had finished speaking to all Israel, he said to them,
“I am now one hundred and twenty years old
and am no longer able to move about freely;
besides, the LORD has told me that I shall not cross this Jordan.
It is the LORD, your God, who will cross before you;
he will destroy these nations before you,
that you may supplant them.
It is Joshua who will cross before you, as the LORD promised.
The LORD will deal with them just as he dealt with Sihon and Og,
the kings of the Amorites whom he destroyed,
and with their country.
When, therefore, the LORD delivers them up to you,
you must deal with them exactly as I have ordered you.
Be brave and steadfast; have no fear or dread of them,
for it is the LORD, your God, who marches with you;
he will never fail you or forsake you.”
Then Moses summoned Joshua and in the presence of all Israel
said to him, “Be brave and steadfast,
for you must bring this people into the land
which the LORD swore to their fathers he would give them;
you must put them in possession of their heritage.
It is the LORD who marches before you;
he will be with you and will never fail you or forsake you.
So do not fear or be dismayed.”
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Dt 31:1-8
In this passage from Deuteronomy, Moses passes the leadership of the Children of Israel to Joshua. Because of Moses’ long standing image as the one who could speak face to face with God and because he was told that he would not lead them on this final part of the journey, he tells the Israelites that God Himself will lead them into the land that was promised to them. In the final section Moses places the mantel of leadership on Joshua. He enjoins him to be “brave and steadfast” since he must lead the people to the fulfillment of God’s promise.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Responsorial Psalm: Deuteronomy 32:3-4ab, 7, 8, 9 and 12
R. (9a) The portion of the Lord is his people.
For I will sing the LORD’s renown.
Oh, proclaim the greatness of our God!
The Rock–how faultless are his deeds,
how right all his ways!
R. The portion of the Lord is his people.
Think back on the days of old,
reflect on the years of age upon age.
Ask your father and he will inform you,
ask your elders and they will tell you.
R. The portion of the Lord is his people.
When the Most High assigned the nations their heritage,
when he parceled out the descendants of Adam,
He set up the boundaries of the peoples
after the number of the sons of Israel.
R. The portion of the Lord is his people.
While the LORD’s own portion was Jacob,
his hereditary share was Israel.
The LORD alone was their leader,
no strange god was with him.
R. The portion of the Lord is his people.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Dt 32:3-4ab, 7, 8, 9 and 12
In this psalm of praise for God’s salvation we hear the pledge of Moses again, that God himself would lead them into the land promised to the Children of Israel (who was once named Jacob).
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gospel: Matthew 18:1-5, 10, 12-14
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.”
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Mt 18:1-5, 10, 12-14
Jesus, in this selection from St. Matthew’s Gospel, summarizes what is known as “church order”. It is called this because, in response to the question “who will be greatest in the Kingdom of heaven”, Jesus refutes the rank and privilege of the secular world and indicates that those whose faith is like a small child will find greatness in heaven. He goes on to remind them that angles of God watch over these children and that there is no greater sin than leading a child to sin. Nor is there a greater duty than seeking a child who is lost (to sin).
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reflection:
Imagine standing among the ranks of the Saints in God’s Heavenly Kingdom. All of the faithful are lined up, rank upon endless rank of the great faithful of our history. There at the very pinnacle of the worshiping ranks is the most humble child, completely oblivious to the honor, focused only upon the loving face of the Lord. Behind that innocent child in descending order are those greats of the faith that could not find complete release from the worldly titles and honors of the society left behind on earth. The one who valued those honors most would stand at the very back of those ranks, the Lord barely visible in the distance yearned to be crossed.
It is this innocence the Lord holds up in St. Matthew’s Gospel. It is the ability to cast aside the rational view, the practical attitudes, and the secular shrewdness the Lord sees as necessary in order for us to attain the spiritual strength he calls his faithful to accept.
How easy the yoke but how difficult the acceptance. The very attitudes we must set aside are those that some might call “survival instincts” in the secular world. Some, like the Poor Clares whose founder St. Clare of Assisi we memorialize today, saw the need to remove themselves from all the material possessions of world, desiring no ownership whatsoever. In this way they would not be tempted to accept the mantle of secular success but would attain that innocence demanded by the Lord.
For those of us who remain part of the world it is much more difficult to achieve and retain that singular focus on Christ. All of us cannot forego the material things of the world. We must use our God-given gifts to provide for ourselves and our families as best we can. In a sense that responsibility is lost innocence, however, we overcome it by a constant effort to seek Christ even as we labor.
We ask St. Clare to pray for us on this, her day. We pray that while we must make our way in the world, let us not be seduced by material wealth, but rather seek the spiritual wealth of God’s Heavenly Kingdom.
Pax
[1] ALTRE
[2] The picture is “Eleazar commissioning Joshua” by Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld, 1851-60
[3] Text of Readings is taken from the New American Bible, Copyright © Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 1973, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved.
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