REFLECTION/HOMILY FOR THE MEMORIAL OF SAINT CLARE, VIRGIN

A LUMINOUS LEGACY: SAINT CLARE’S ENDURING IMPACT

First Reading: Deuteronomy 4:32-40
Responsorial Psalm: Ps. 76(77):12-16,21
Gospel Reading: Matthew 16:24-28

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The Church’s liturgical calendar is filled with the celebration of courageous men and women who left indelible marks across the pages of history. One of these towering figures is Saint Clare, who offered her virginity for the sake of Christ. As we celebrate her memorial today, the Church invites us to embark on a reflective journey that unveils the life – examples, legacy, and impact in the lives of the faithful. Guided by today’s liturgical readings, we get immersed in her historical page, drawing inspiration from her profound example.

The First Reading unravels a parallel between Saint Clare’s faithfulness in her calling after she encountered Christ and the Israelites’ encounters with divine manifestations. In other words, just as God established with His people, unveiling His presence through mighty acts and miraculous signs; in Saint Clare’s life, we witness a parallel devotion, a covenant of love and devotion to Christ. Like the Israelites who witnessed divine manifestations, Clare beheld the radiance of Christ’s teachings and chose a life of humility, mirroring the simplicity of the Saviour she adored. Her life became a living testimony to God’s calling to remain steadfast and resolute, a call she answered with strong determination.

As we traverse further, the strains of the Responsorial Psalm guide us deeper into the labyrinth of Clare’s exemplary life. In the heart of trials and tribulations, she sought refuge in the Lord, her rock and anchor. Just as the psalmist recounts the wonders of God parting the waters and guiding His people, Clare too found solace and direction through her faith. Her life’s journey became an indication that demonstrates that those who seek the Lord shall find solace, even amid the tempests of life.

It is in the Gospel Reading that we expose the facet of Saint Clare’s legacy – her radical self-denial and unflinching devotion. As Christ beckons His disciples to take up their crosses and follow Him, Clare heeded this call with unparalleled fervour. Embracing a life of poverty, she became a living embodiment of Christ’s teachings, enriching her life by forsaking material possessions and following the path of the cross. Her legacy illuminates the path of sacrificial love, reminding us that by losing ourselves in the service of God, we discover the true essence of existence.

Dear friends, as we reflect upon Saint Clare’s life, her examples juxtapose a tale of faithfulness and sacrifice in God’s service. Her story sparks as a resounding call to live with unflinching devotion, to seek refuge in the Lord’s steadfast presence, and to embark on a journey of radical self-giving. The legacy of Saint Clare serves to strengthen our faith and to make us strong in self-giving to God’s service, inviting us to take up our own crosses, to live our lives as a reflection of divine love, and to find profound meaning in the embrace of our faith.

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Shalom!
© Fr. Chinaka Justin Mbaeri, OSJ
Paroquia Nossa Senhora de Loreto, Vila Medeiros, São Paulo, Brazil
nozickcjoe@gmail.com / fadacjay@gmail.com

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