Reflection on Today's Readings and the Memorial of St. Claire, Tuesday, 19th Week in Ordinary Time Year II, 11th August, 2020
Texts: Ez. 2:8-3:4; Ps. 119:14,24,72,103,111,131; Matt. 18:1-5,10,12-14
The task of God for us is always great and often looks demanding, all we need to accomplish it is a submissive spirit. Hence, God told prophet Ezekiel thus: "Be not rebellious like that rebellious house". It is a call to be submissive to God's will.
Correction, as simple as it may look, is demanding; it often takes a lot of courage to correct the other person. Prophet Ezekiel was not just to correct his people but to proclaim the message of lamentation, mourning and woe. It is a message that no one would like to deliver. God is aware of how demanding the task may be and also he always supplies the grace to carry out the task he has entrusted to us. Though it was an unpalatable message, it was sweet as honey in Ezekiel's mouth. God will always make his burden light for us to carry. We only need submission to his will. Being submissive helps us to appropriate the grace of God that we might accomplish his task for us.
Jesus Christ, in today's gospel, makes submissive spirit a requirement for entering heaven. Jesus says, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven". A child is a symbol of submissiveness. Put differently, submissiveness is a childlike attitude.
Jesus also talks of submissive spirit as mark of being great and as a means of attracting God's favour. He says, "Whoever humbles himself like this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. ... See that you do not despise one of these little ones; for I tell you that in heaven their angels always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven".
Today we remember St. Clare as a saint and virgin in the Church. Her memorial reminds us that purity is a possibility in our world. She gave herself wholeheartedly to God. This writing about her reveals God's glory in her life: "Clare was noble by birth, more noble in spirit; virgin in body, most chaste in mind; young in age, advanced in judgment; constant in doing good, espoused always to divine love, wise and at same time humble, famous by name, more famous by her life and most famous by her manners" (Words of Eternal Life). When we are submissive to God, he transforms our lives to manifest his glory.
Lord our God, take away from us rebellious spirit that we might be submissive to your will and so inherit eternal life. Amen.
Fr. Andrew Olowomuke
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