THE MEMORIAL OF ST CLAIRE, VIRGIN AND FOUNDRESS.
THE GOOD NEWS:
"As Jesus and his disciples were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them,
“The Son of Man is to be handed over to men, and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day.” And they were overwhelmed with grief.
"When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the temple tax approached Peter and said, “Does not your teacher pay the temple tax?”
“Yes,” he said.
When he came into the house, before he had time to speak, Jesus asked him,
“What is your opinion, Simon?
From whom do the kings of the earth take tolls or census tax? From their subjects or from foreigners?”
When he said, “From foreigners,”
"Jesus said to him, “Then the subjects are exempt. But that we may not offend them, go to the sea, drop in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up.
Open its mouth and you will find a coin worth twice the temple tax. Give that to them for me and for you.” (Matthew 17: 22 - 27).
Monday 11th August 2025 of the 19th week of Ordinary Time is the feast of St Clare. (1193 - 1253). Italian.
At 18, Clare was not only beautiful but her parents were very wealthy. She gave up everything to follow the original Little One, Jesus Christ our Savior. Imitating St Francis of Assisi, the little poor man of Assisi, Clare embraced radical poverty. She founded the Poor Clares and modeled its constitution from what she learned from St Francis of Assisi. The Poor Clares continue to serve the Church today.
I know one Poor Clare Nun, who made a great contribution to the world. Mother Angelica (+ 2016). She founded EWTN which is the only global Catholic Television Network in the world. For me, Mother Angelica is a saint. She prayed and worked. She suffered persecution from inside and outside the Church. She experienced much ill health most of her life. She remained a Poor Clare all her life. "Santo Subito!"
There are two tracks in today's Gospel:
#1. How did Jesus handle tax matters?
#2. How did Jesus handle money?
The first is easy. Jesus paid His taxes.
Throughout His ministry, there is no single incident where we see Jesus handling money directly. Jesus and the Twelve had a bursar who was charged with keeping the donations and buying the necessities for the Group. Jesus seemed to have a disdain for money. He called money dishonest wealth and the Bible calls it filthy lucre.
Money taints and corrupts everything it touches.
When Jesus sent His disciples to evangelize, He discouraged them from carrying large amounts of cash.
Trust completely in the mighty and merciful Providence of God to provide all your needs.
When the Temple Tax collectors challenged Jesus over tax, Jesus and the Twelve probably had no money in their purse.
Not wanting to delay the payment of the Temple tax, Jesus did an interesting thing.
"But that we may not offend them, go to the sea, drop in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up. Open its mouth and you will find a coin worth twice the temple tax.
Give that to them for me and for you.”
Jesus knew precisely where the fish with the golden coin in its mouth would be hiding.
In our work for the Gospel, we trust in the mighty and merciful Providence of Jesus, to provide our necessities.
August is dedicated to honoring the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Mary says "In the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph."
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