“Because the way and path is difficult and the gate through which one passes and enters to life is narrow, there are both few who walk it and enter through it.” —The Testament of St. Clare
At this point in our Lenten journey, we may be growing weary of the promises we made at the beginning of the season. In those moments, we must remember St. Clare’s determination. Throughout her life, she pushed forward despite the obstacles placed in her way. She fought until her dying day to establish a rule for her sisters. It was only upon having her rule finally approved that she allowed herself to rest in Jesus. With her example before us, surely, we can forge ahead to the celebration of Easter.
Gaze | Consider | Contemplate | Imitate
The path to God through contemplative vision for Clare takes seriously the outrageous love of God visible in the scandal of the cross. What we in our own time consider absurd—fragility, weakness, suffering and death—Clare, like many women mystics of her time, understood as the ensured path into divine love. The key to uncovering this love hidden in the field of the human heart is contemplation.
For Clare, as for Francis, contemplation means looking upon the Earth while seeing the things of heaven.23 It means seeing things for what they truly are, even in their weakness and brokenness, and not what we project onto them or want them to be. Her path of contemplation impels us to ask: What do we see as we travel the Earth? What are we looking for when we go about in the world?
Clare reminds us that contemplation is the vision of a heart centered in Christ. Unless we can see God concealed in the fragility of our created world and love the God we see, our blindness remains, and the world persists in darkness. Like the disciples on the road to Emmaus we foolishly ask, “Have you not heard? Did you not see?” Never realizing all the while that Christ is in our midst. –from Clare of Assisi: A Heart Full of Love
Prayer
St. Clare, may we look to you
for inspiration as we move
forward with renewed spirits
and determination.
Amen.
7 thoughts on “Lent with St. Clare: Third Monday”
It’s a choice we make. To honor G-d or to seek worldly pleasures. Which one do you want to be a slave too. Remember we can not serve two masters .That’s all.
G-d Bless.
Thanks for this reflection…
The choice is either God or the world…yes it is black or white…
I pray we choose wisely..
Well said we must believe God is with us.
We must prevail so we can enter the gates of heaven
For both St. Clare and St. Francis contemplation has a very unique definition which is more attainable for the ordinary soul to enter. Contemplative prayer would seem to go hand in hand with contemplating the earth which is where our God has placed us. Even still we must guard our hearts against allowing improper thoughts and concepts to enter during this process. Silence and nothingness have a positive purpose as to unite us with the world we inhabit which our God created for us.
So as St. Clare reflects upon the earth and what she sees as she travels, even if travel is limited, she actively chooses to see it as it truly is without projecting upon it what the imagination desires it could be…the mission of St. Clare and St. Francis’ version of contemplation in prayer allows our senses to be engaged by choice in the reality of this time and space. We can choose to meet God here . especially in the brokeness , but realizing the brokeness does not have to break us or our spirit. We can respond to make a difference as Jesus did to allow the brokenness to exist while tending to the what and whom are in this disheveled garden . In the contemplation of what we are looking for while we travel the earth can change how we allow our spirit to respond to all its needs . So the part I love today is highlighted below,what a gift as we move forward trying to emulate the thoughts and action of the Saints of Assisi wherever we planted.
Clare reminds us that contemplation is the vision of a heart centered in Christ. Unless we can see God concealed in the fragility of our created world and love the God we see, our blindness remains, and the world persists in darkness. Like the disciples on the road to Emmaus we foolishly ask, “Have you not heard? Did you not see?” Never realizing all the while that Christ is in our midst. –from Clare of Assisi: A Heart Full of Love
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury let me sow pardon. Where there is doubt let me sow faith. Where there is despair let me give hope. Where there is darkness let me give light. Where there is sadness let me give joy. (Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi, 1181-1226)
I think the last sentences says it all. Have you not heard? Did you not see? Never realizing all the while Christ is in our midst. That is what our lives are meant to be: seeing Christ in our midst. Seeing Him in all that we encounter. It is a tough way but it is the way to Union with God.
I get determination. I don’t understand waiting to rest in Jesus tho. What am I missing?
I’m personally pretty exhausted & have only endured what I have by resting in Jesus.