POWER POINTS: GOD AT WORK THROUGH WOMEN LEADERS YESTERDAY AND TODAY by Leecy Barnett CLARE OF ASSISI MARK 10:21 (NIV)
...“One thing you lack,” He said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
W
hat if you were to take this command to the rich, young ruler literally? What if you sold everything you owned, gave the proceeds to the poor, and simply followed Jesus? Clare of Assisi did just that. She gave up her rich family’s hopes and dreams for her, began to follow Jesus and never looked back. Clare was born in the Italian city of Assisi in 1194. This was a time of great civil and religious change. When Clare was just four years old the Rocca Maggiore castle, seat of Assisi’s government, was destroyed by a riot, to prevent it from falling into the hands of the papal governor. This unrest spread to “attacks on the native nobility as well: many of them lost their palaces and towers in the city and their castles in the country. By the end of 1199, the dispossessed Assisian nobles had begun streaming into other cities.” 1 Clare’s family was forced into exile in nearby 86
Perugia. Because her father and brother were often off fighting to win back their home, the women of the family were forced to rely on God to protect them. After six years or so, Clare and her family were able to return to Assisi. It was about this time that a young man from another wealthy Assisi family began to reevaluate his empty lavish lifestyle. Christ’s command to the Rich Young Ruler spoke directly to him. He also felt called to follow Jesus’ instructions to the apostles, "Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt.” (Luke 9:3 NIV). So Francis renounced his position, possessions and inheritance, and began to simply follow Jesus. Francis’ preaching was causing a stir in Assisi. Many who were spiritually curious, including Clare, went to listen to
