Clowning for Christ
From today’s Scripture: “‘Whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant’”—Mk 10:43
St. Philip Neri, whose feast we celebrate today, was a jokester, literally. He actually acted the part of the Holy Fool in 16th century Rome, wearing hairskins inside-out, donning large white shoes, cracking practical jokes on others constantly. He was a priest who would not allow himself to be named cardinal—his joking was always a way for him to show humility as the way to love.
It’s no mistake that St. Philip is patron of Catholic Extension Society, an organization that helps to fund the construction of many Glenmary churches. In a sense, Extension and Glenmary follow in the large clown shoes of St. Philip. They insist that little things can be the most important, whether it be those in poverty, or simply those off the beaten path, in rural areas. We mustn’t take ourselves too seriously, St. Philip exemplifies. We must take time for the small, important stuff.
Let us pray: Lord, help us to change our priorities. Help us to see that the last will be first, that the tiny mustard seed is the one to watch. Help us, like St. Philip, to follow your simple way.
Today’s author is John Feister, a widely published journalist and member of Glenmary’s Communications Team.
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