Reflection for THURSDAY, 19th Week, Ordinary Time.

By

Fr. Aloysius Santiago sdb

Director, Social Action Movement, Don Bosco Bidar

Today's Gospel Verses 


 Matthew 18:32 - 35     


 Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to.  Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’  In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. 

 “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.” 


Today's Reflection 


There are some people who could hear you speak a thousand words, and still not understand you.

And there are others who will understand, without you even speaking a word.

 1st reading, the prophet Ezekiel did those actions that God told him to do. 

Of course, the people watched him, since he was a prophet, and wondered what was the meaning of what he did.

And God did tell him what to say to the people.  But for those who truly understood, they need not be told of what was the meaning.

Similarly, in the gospel parable, we need not wonder if there are other meanings beside the obvious that Jesus stated and it is about forgiveness.

Let us thank the Lord God for His mercy and compassion and let us count our blessings.

Then we won’t be counting the wrong that others did to us, and we will even be able to pray for them.


 Saint of the day 


August 11 | St. Clare of Assisi


One of the more sugary movies made about Francis of Assisi pictures Clare as a golden-haired beauty floating through sun-drenched fields, a sort of one-woman counterpart to the new Franciscan Order.

The beginning of her religious life was indeed movie material. Having refused to marry at 15, Clare was moved by the dynamic preaching of Francis. He became her lifelong friend and spiritual guide.

At 18, Clare escaped from her father’s home one night, was met on the road by friars carrying torches, and in the poor little chapel called the Portiuncula received a rough woolen habit, exchanged her jeweled belt for a common rope with knots in it, and sacrificed her long tresses to Francis’ scissors. He placed her in a Benedictine convent, which her father and uncles immediately stormed in rage. Clare clung to the altar of the church, threw aside her veil to show her cropped hair, and remained adamant.

Sixteen days later her sister Agnes joined her. Others came. They lived a simple life of great poverty, austerity, and complete seclusion from the world, according to a Rule which Francis gave them as a Second Order. At age 21, Francis obliged Clare under obedience to accept the office of abbess, one she exercised until her death.

The Poor Ladies went barefoot, slept on the ground, ate no meat, and observed almost complete silence. Later Clare, like Francis, persuaded her sisters to moderate this rigor: “Our bodies are not made of brass.” The greatest emphasis, of course, was on gospel poverty. They possessed no property, even in common, subsisting on daily contributions. When even the pope tried to persuade Clare to mitigate this practice, she showed her characteristic firmness: “I need to be absolved from my sins, but I do not wish to be absolved from the obligation of following Jesus Christ.”

Contemporary accounts glow with admiration of Clare’s life in the convent of San Damiano in Assisi. She served the sick and washed the feet of the begging nuns. She came from prayer, it was said, with her face so shining it dazzled those about her. She suffered serious illness for the last 27 years of her life. Her influence was such that popes, cardinals, and bishops often came to consult her—Clare herself never left the walls of San Damiano.

Francis always remained her great friend and inspiration. Clare was always obedient to his will and to the great ideal of gospel life which he was making real.

A well-known story concerns her prayer and trust. Clare had the Blessed Sacrament placed on the walls of the convent when it faced attack by invading Saracens. “Does it please you, O God, to deliver into the hands of these beasts the defenseless children I have nourished with your love? I beseech you, dear Lord, protect these whom I am now unable to protect.” To her sisters she said, “Don’t be afraid. Trust in Jesus.” The Saracens fled.

St. Clare of Assisi, pray for us.


   GOD BLESS YOU

Good morning. Have a nice day