14th
SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME–A
I
Reading: Zachariah 9:9-10: See now, your king comes humbly to you:
The prophet sees the Messianic King entering Jerusalem on an animal of peace
and in humility. War will be no more; universal peace will be established. The
reading brings back thoughts of Passion (Palm) Sunday. The prophet Zachariah
gives to the Jews a true picture of what the Messiah would be like.
II
Reading: Romans 8:9.11-13: If by the Spirit you put an end to the misdeeds of
the body, you live:
Baptism
with Christ creates a new life for the believers, a life directed by the
indwelling Spirit, a word used nearly thirty times in this chapter alone. The
word “Body” is not an easy word to define in Pauline usage. Here it means our
lower self prone to sin. Man came to know the goodness of God through Jesus
Christ.
Gospel:
Matthew 11: 25-30: I am gentle and humble in heart:
Our Lord gives a self
revelation that indicates a oneness with the Father. Then like Isaiah with his
call to come to the waters and drink, our Lord issues a gracious invitation
that has been accepted through the centuries by those who have sought relief
from the burdens of life. The yoke to which our Lord refers is primarily the
burden of the Pharisaic law. His yoke fits lightly and does not chafe. It is a
personal appeal by Jesus Christ to all.
The Blindness
of This Generation:
The
generation was blind to three things:
1.
The people were blind to God’s
truth:
a. The
wise are blind: self- sufficient
b. The
little children are not blind: teachable
2.
The people are blind to God’s will
and purpose:
3.
The people were blind to the
Messiah. Note: a man is blind to four facts about the Messiah:
a. He
is of God, His very own Son
b. He
has been given all things
c. He
is the Mediator
d. He
alone reveals God
The Great Invitation:
Given to this Generation, Mt 11:28-30
Jesus
paints two pictures in this passage. One picture is of extreme weariness. The
other picture is of extreme pressure. This is the person who is about to
explode; he cannot take anymore. Jesus did not say what caused the weariness or
pressure (heavy burdens).
It does not matter, for
his invitation is open to all. It is a simple invitation, requiring so little
and offering so much.
1.
Come to Me (v.28)
a. Who:
The weary
b. Why:
He will give rest
c. Condition:
Must come to Jesus
2.
Take my yoke-learn of Me (v.29-30)
a. Why:
1) He
is gentle and humble
2) We
will find rest
3) His
yoke is easy, his burden is light
b. Condition:
Must come to Jesus Christ
Thought: Some
of the things that exhaust us are
·
Too much work
·
Worldliness and carnality (fleshy
pleasure)
·
Sin and guilt
·
Unsatisfying spirit in money and
material possession
·
Name and fame of emptiness in life
·
Power and lowliness of it
·
The rituals and traditions of
religion
·
Rules and regulations
·
Not knowing the truth of life is
one the major causes of exhaustion
Thought:
Every person has his/her yoke that is his/her life to live and his/her task to
do while on earth. Jesus is gentle and humble. He cares, looks after us. How
far we can go to Jesus’ invitation (Come to ME) and how capable we are.
Thought:
Spiritual truth is “hidden” where? In God. The only key to spiritual truth is
faith and trust in God. What Christ condemns is not intelligence and wisdom but
intellectual pride and self-sufficiency.
Gospel:
Matthew 11: 28-30: I am gentle and humble in heart.
The Great
Invitation: Given to This Generation, Mt 11:28-30
Christ paints two
pictures in this passage. One picture is of extreme weariness. The other
picture is of extreme pressure. Jesus does not say what caused the weariness or
pressure (heavy burdens). It does not matter, for his invitation is open to
all. It is a simple invitation, requiring so little and offering so much.
3.
Come to Me (v.28)
d. Who:
The weary
e. Why:
He will give rest
f. Condition:
Must come to Jesus
4.
Take my yoke-learn of Me (v.29-30)
c. Why:
4) He
is gentle and humble
5) We
will find rest
6) His
yoke is easy, his burden is light
d. Condition:
Must come to Jesus Christ
Thought: Some
of the things that exhaust us are
·
Too much work
·
Worldliness and carnality (fleshy
pleasure)
·
Sin and guilt
·
Unsatisfying spirit in money and
material possession
·
Name and fame of emptiness in life
·
Power and lowliness of it
·
The rituals and traditions of
religion
·
Rules and regulations
·
Not knowing the truth of life is
one the major causes of exhaustion
Thought:
Every person has his/her yoke that is his/her life to live and his/her task to
do while on earth. Jesus is gentle and humble. He cares, looks after us. How
far we can go to Jesus’ invitation (Come to ME) and how capable we are.
Thought: The
purpose of our life is to know Jesus and the Father who sent him: only those
who strive to know them will have life eternal (Jn 17:3). Pride, greed, sin in
all its forms, prevent us from knowing God; we must strive at all times to get
rid of sin.
Jesus is a
gentle and humble person so let us learn from him and try to resemble him in
these two qualities (Ps 144:8-9)
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