Gospel: August 11, 2025

August 11, 2025 (Monday)

19th Week in Ordinary Time

Psalter: Week 3 / (White)

St. Clare, virgin

Ps 147:12-13, 14-15, 19-20

Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.

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1st Reading: Deuteronomy 10:12-22

Gospel: Matthew 17:22-27

While Jesus was in Galilee with the Twelve, he said to them, “The Son of Man will be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. But he will rise on the third day.” The Twelve were deeply grieved. When they returned to Capernaum, the temple tax collectors came to Peter and asked him, “Does your master pay the temple tax?” He answered, “Yes.” Peter then entered the house; and immediately, Jesus asked him, “What do you think, Simon? Who pay taxes or tribute to the kings of the earth: their sons or strangers and aliens?” Peter replied, “Strangers and aliens.” And Jesus told him, “The sons, then, are tax-free. But, so as not to offend these people, go to the sea, throw in a hook, and open the mouth of the first fish you catch. You will find a coin in it. Take the coin and give it to them for you and for me.”

Reflection:

“Called to be a mirror of Christ.”

“Purify your hearts and do not be defiant” to God. Saint Clare followed the example of Saint Francis of Assisi and sought to purify her heart by living a life of simplicity in dedication to prayer and to the poor. This spiritual purification also had the purpose of polishing the mirror of the soul, so that it would reflect Christ with as few smudges or smears as possible. The use of metaphor of the mirror was widespread in female spirituality of the Middle Ages. For Saint Clare, the human person is the image of the Image, that is the Son of God, and so human beings are called to be a mirror of Christ for others, called to reflect Christ in their very being. However, Christ on the cross is also a mirror for us, as he lets us see who we truly are. Thus, Christ is not only the Image in which we were created, but also our call to conversion and the source of our salvation. We are not strangers to God. By being God’s image, we belong to him, and so we have the right and duty to stay close to him.