The Feast of St Clare | Friday 11 August 2023

Today is Friday the 11th of August, the feast of St Clare, in the 18th week of Ordinary time.

The Cape Town Youth Choir sings, Ndikhokhele Bawo:
Lead me oh Father, lead me
Lead me my saviour in all the sorrows of this world
Father I thank you, for you still protect me
Father, Saviour, you calm my fears.

Ndikhokhele Bawo, zundikhokhele (Lead me oh Father, lead me) Ndikhokhele mmeli wami ezintsizini, Zalomhlaba Bawo (Lead me my saviour in all the sorrows of this world, Father)
Bawo, Bawo, Bawo (Father, Father, Father) Bawo ndiyabonga Ngoba wena usandigcinile (Father I thank you, for you still protect me)
Mmeli wami Bawo uhlal’ uhlele duzekwami (Father, Saviour, you calm my fears) Bawo ndiyabonga ngoba wena usandigcinile (Father I thank you, for you still protect me)





Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Matthew.


Matthew 16:24-28

Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?

‘For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done. Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.’

Another complex teaching from Jesus today. We can perhaps begin by tackling it from a simpler place… Take a moment to reflect on a time in your life where you have followed someone; an experience that brought fruit of some kind… this could be a parent, a teacher, mentor, friend, priest, pastor, or even as simple as a tour guide or someone who helped you when you were lost… Reflect on what it was like to be a follower in this experience…

Hold on now to the good qualities of this person that stand out to you… perhaps patience, kindness, gentleness, assurance, determination…

When you’re ready, shift your focus and attention to Jesus, knowing that he possesses all of these “good” qualities in their fullness and many more…


‘…those who lose their life for my sake will find it.’ As you hear this passage again, hold onto all that you have reflected on so far about following Jesus… with these in mind, notice how it feels to be invited to follow him, and in turn, find life…

‘…let them deny themselves…’ The word ‘deny’ here can also be translated as ‘forget oneself’ and one’s own interests… This might seem overwhelming, but often our faith shines through the smallest choices we make; small loving acts to embody the greatest choice we have made: to follow Jesus. Speak to Jesus now about anything that has drawn you into a deeper desire to follow him…speak also of what has been difficult for you during this prayer time, aware of Jesus’ care for you.


Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.