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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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, whose feast day we celebrate today?
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 she founded a second order of the Franciscans, the Poor Clares. To this day, both religious orders remain active around the world, some 800 years later.
What draws me to Clare is the fact that she’s the lesser known of the two Saints; a bit like a drummer in a band, as opposed to the lead singer.
Although she and Francis both helped to rebuild and reform the Church; although they both left everything behind to follow Jesus, Francis receives most of the recognition.
And for Clare, that was okay. She didn’t need the spotlight; she was content playing a supporting role, seeking only to glorify God with her life.
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Clare’s example leaves us several questions to ponder.
Like her, do I seek to glorify God with my life? Am I content with going unnoticed, or do I need recognition for doing good?
Do I have a holy friend like Francis, someone who points me closer to God? Am Ithat friend for others?
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Saint Clare of Assisi, pray for us.
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Image credits: (1) Clare of Assisi, Wikipedia (2) Renovaré (3) Dreamstime.com
Jesus said to his disciples: “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be. The Father will honor whoever serves me.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
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Most children go through a superhero phase. Whether it’s Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, or the Incredible Hulk, children are inspired by the creativity, bravery, and sense of justice that superheroes bring.
Batman protects the city of Gotham.
Wonder Woman fights for equality.
There’s something instinctively good about these heroes putting themselves on the line, fighting for what is right and true.
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Every so often, a child grows up, becoming like the superheroes of their youth. In the Catholic Church, we call these men and women Saints.
Not because they possess a superpower which the rest of humanity does not, or because they are from some other planet, but because they lean into grace and put their faith into action, often with great suffering or at the cost of their lives.
Using the imagery of today’s Gospel, the Saints are like grains of wheat, who fall to the ground and die, producing much fruit – thirty, sixty, or a hundredfold.
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Today we celebrate the Feast of Saint Lawrence, a deacon who lived in third-century Rome. Directly appointed by the pope, Lawrence was responsible for distributing the material wealth collected by the Church to the poor.
But in 258, the Roman Emperor Valerian issued a decree that all bishops, priests, and deacons were to be executed, and the riches of the Church confiscated for his own possession.
Before his execution, Lawrence asked for permission to collect the wealth of the Church. Seventy-two hours later, he presented a delegation of the city’s poor, blind, crippled, and sick to Valerian and said, “Here are the treasures of the Church!”
Enraged, Valerian ordered Lawrence to be seared to death on red-hot grill.
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The use of this man’s courage, faith, and creativity in the fight against evil are what make him a Saint. Or, you might say a superhero, capable of inspiring children and adults alike.
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Image credits: (1) Library of Congress (2) Instagram (3) The Martyrdom of Saint Lawrence, Peter Paul Rubens
After he had fed the people, Jesus made the disciples get into a boat and precede him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When it was evening he was there alone. Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore, was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it. During the fourth watch of the night, he came toward them walking on the sea. When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified. “It is a ghost,” they said, and they cried out in fear. At once Jesus spoke to them, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” Peter said to him in reply, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught Peter, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” After they got into the boat, the wind died down. Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying, “Truly, you are the Son of God.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
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What enabled Peter to walk on water?
Imagine the wind whipping his hair into his eyes and beads of rain pelting his skin as he and the others fight for their lives in what must’ve felt like the storm of the century.
Wiping his face, Peter spots a luminous figure approaching him on the water, piercing the night. “Is it the ghost of death?” He might’ve wondered.
No, it’s the Lord, who summons him with the word, “Come.”
Swinging his legs over the side of the boat, Peter’s feet land on choppy waters as he draws a deep breath in and stands up straight.
Like a baby taking its first steps, Peter wobbles forward in joyful wonder, finding – if only for a moment – newfound freedom, allowing his feet to take him where his mind and heart yearned to be.
Out onto the open water, closer and closer to Jesus.
It’s only after Peter surveys the scene: white capped waves swelling around him, wind screaming in his ears, the other disciples watching, and Jesus staring at him that his mind begins to race and he sinks.
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Again, what enabled Peter to walk on water? How did he defy gravity? God’s grace had a lot to do with it. But also consider the movement of his body, which physically and spiritually speaking, unlocks the mystery.
Did Peter dive headfirst into the water? No. Did he get a running start, leaping over the edge, landing with a bellyflop? A backflip? Or a cannonball? No.
He stepped out onto the water feet first.
Gravity was not the cause of his downfall – nor is it the cause of our own.
It was that calculating, rationalizing, fear-inciting, Doubting Thomas part of his mind that convinced him that he was unable to walk any further, that he was unsafe, and that he was about to drown.
Ironically enough, it became a self-fulfilling prophecy.
How often are we like Peter? How often does fear cause us to sink, drawing us away from God?
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As the waters begin to swallow him whole, Jesus seizes Peter by the collar, sending him back into the boat and into the company of the disciples.
I’d imagine Peter gasping for air, traumatized, fidgeting like a fish out of water. And instead of offering an affirming word or a pat on his back, giving him an “A” for effort, Jesus rebukes Peter, saying, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
The whole scene can leave us dumbfounded. Peter just did what no other human being has ever done! How is that not pleasing to the Lord?
I don’t think Jesus was upset. Perhaps a little disappointed, because Peter just discovered the pearl of great price, the difference it makes when the Lord is our focal point, not the wind or the waves enveloping us.
But then he let the pearl of faith go, allowing fear to overtake him.
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Could this story have turned out any other way?
Could Peter have flipped out of the boat and landed on his feet victoriously next to Jesus? Could his surprise landing have inspired the other disciples to follow suit?
Perhaps.
But such a story would have little to do with us. The truth is, we’re all like Peter. We do have faith in Jesus. We do make ourselves vulnerable, we do take risks, we do throw our legs over the boat at Christ’s command, trying our best to walk on water.
But every so often, we begin to sink and we cry out as Peter did, “Lord save me!” Not from a lack of effort, or because of watered-down faith, but because we’re merely human.
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For example, we lose our job and pray we’ll find another. We step out in faith as we start eating into our savings to keep the bills paid, patiently trusting that the right door will open. But when it doesn’t – at least not right away – we start to panic and sink.
Or we try stepping out onto the waters of sobriety, of forgiveness, of truth-telling, or goodwill. We get our feet wet, but the waves rise with every step, leaving us an uphill climb.
Or we receive bad news from the doctor and pray for a miracle. Our spirits start high, but as our health declines, so does our spirit.
The truth is, faith and fear often co-exist within us. We are lifted up by one, but weighed down by the other, like a buoy bobbing in the sea.
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But Peter teaches us the best way to follow the Lord is not with our mind, or even our heart, but our feet first as an act of genuine, uncalculating faith.
As we step out onto the water once again this week, may we keep our focus on Him, “whom even the wind and the seas obey.”
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Image credits: (1) The Storm on the Sea of Galilee, Rembrandt (2) Peter Walks on Water, Philip Otto Runge, 1806 (3) Altus Fine Art
