The Taste of God’s Word and the Heart of a Child

Ezek 2:8—3:4, Psalm: 118, Mt 18:1-5, 10, 12-14

Memorial of Saint Clare, Virgin

My dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

On this Memorial of Saint Clare of Assisi, the Church presents us with two powerful images: the prophet Ezekiel eating the scroll of God’s word, and Jesus placing a child in the midst of His disciples. Both speak of a radical simplicity, a total receptivity, and a trust that transforms the heart. Saint Clare, who left the comforts of wealth for the poverty of San Damiano, lived these truths with radiant joy.

In the Book of Ezekiel, the prophet is commanded to eat the scroll that is handed to him. It is filled with “lamentations, wailing, and woe.” But when he eats it, it tastes “as sweet as honey” in his mouth. The Word of God is not always easy to hear. It confronts us with our sin, it calls us to repentance, it demands a change of heart. But for those who receive it with faith, it becomes the source of sweetness and life. Ezekiel must consume the Word before he can speak it. He must make it part of his very being before he can proclaim it to others.

In the Gospel, the disciples ask Jesus, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Jesus calls a child, places him in their midst, and says, “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.” The child is the model of discipleship. A child does not rely on his own strength; he trusts in his parents. A child does not seek status or power; he is content to be small. A child is open, receptive, and without pretense. To enter the Kingdom, we must become like children—dependent on God, humble in heart, and willing to receive the Word with open hands.

Saint Clare lived this Gospel with radical fidelity. She was born into a wealthy family, but she heard the call of Francis and embraced a life of poverty. She lived in the convent of San Damiano, where she and her sisters prayed, worked, and adored the Eucharist. She did not seek greatness in the world; she sought the greatness of being small in the hands of God. She once said, “We become what we love and who we love shapes what we become.” She loved Christ, and she became like Him—poor, humble, and full of joy.

Pope Benedict XVI, reflecting on Saint Clare, said, “She shows us that true freedom is found in giving ourselves completely to God.” Pope Francis has said, “The Church needs saints like Clare, who live the Gospel with joy and simplicity.” And Saint Clare herself, in her second letter to Blessed Agnes of Prague, wrote, “Place your mind before the mirror of eternity; place your soul in the brilliance of glory; place your heart in the figure of the divine substance; and transform your whole self into the image of the Godhead itself through contemplation.”

What does this mean for us? We are called to eat the Word of God—to make it our own, to let it shape our lives. We are called to become like children—to let go of our pride, our need for control, and our desire for status. We are called to embrace the poverty of Saint Clare—not poverty for its own sake, but the poverty of a heart that is free to love God and neighbor without reservation.

This week, let us ask for the grace to receive the Word of God with sweetness, even when it is hard. Let us ask for the grace to become like children, trusting in our Father and resting in His love. And let us ask Saint Clare to intercede for us, that we may live the Gospel with joy, simplicity, and radical fidelity. Amen.

May God bless you all!

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