14th Sunday in Ordinary Time
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Zechariah 9: 9-10; Romans 8: 9, 11-13; Matthew 11:25-30There are times when I read the Sunday newspaper review of the news of the week throughout the world, that I am discouraged. I wonder when the violence and hatred, the abuse and disregard for the marginal people, the sins of hurting and non-caring will end. When will people stop and listen to the call of the Gospel that is proven and time-tested and shows that each person is special and loved by God and therefore to be treated special by me? When will people stop and see that Jesus addresses His words to each person and shows the true way to happiness and peace? Today’s readings give many approaches to this peace.
The coming reign of a ‘just king’ is what the writings in the Old Testament fixed all their hopes on: the prophets foretold the just king’s coming; the people prayed and prayed and the Israelites even in their persecutions and sufferings longed for a messiah king. Zechariah today foretells amazingly how this king will come into Jerusalem: not on a mounted horse, symbolizing a warrior king, but on an ass, a beast used for farming and the transport of goods. And this messiah king will banish all the ‘war animals from the city’ because there has been too much warfare. The kingdom of the messiah will extend ‘from sea to sea’…finally the nations of the world will be united by peace rather than by force of arms.
So often, we just don’t get it...Jesus came telling all people that they are brothers and sisters in God. Why do I want to exercise my silly devotion to power, prestige and possessions? Why do I insist on getting what I want, because I want it? Why do I spend so much time filling the desires of my imagination and dreams? Why am I refusing to see that my brother and sister humans are to be the objects of receiving my gifts? Why do I want to avoid the ethic of Jesus and concentrate on me…me and not gratitude and sharing?
Paul begins his 8th Chapter to the Roman’s in this way: “The truth is that no condemnation now hangs over the head of those who are ‘in’ Christ Jesus. For the new spiritual principle of life ‘in’ Christ Jesus lifts me out of the old vicious circle of sin and death…God sent his own Son to live in sinful human nature like ours. And, while Christ was dealing with sin, God condemned that sinful nature. Therefore we are able to meet the Law’s requirements, for we are living no longer by the dictates of our sinful nature, but in obedience to the promptings of the Spirit.” (JB Phillips translation, The New Testament in Modern English). So how am I living; Paul says it all depends on “if the Spirit…dwells in you.” Nothing is automatic…I have been called…I have been chosen…I have been blessed and filled with gifts of the Spirit, and life-gifts for the sharing and helping of all. So that means what I am obligated to do according to Paul is to ‘affirm the Spirit’s presence, and so shun living according to the flesh’…which means living the way I want to do…the self in me that does not want to admit that my gifts are given by God to help…share…care.
Now it’s good to reflect on the beautiful gospel words of Jesus. Jesus was known throughout Galilee as ‘the carpenter’s son.’ The commentaries of the Scripture strongly suggests that the young Jesus learned the carpenter trade from Joseph in the shop at Nazareth. I’m sure He was taught how to build ‘yokes’. A yoke consisted of a heavy wooden bar which was put on the shoulders of the oxen or asses. They were attached by pins and thongs which passed around and under the animal’s throat. Because of this yokes were individually made and sized. So Jesus words in the gospel today were from his carpenter’s experience. Before today’s verses, Jesus had cursed the obstinate residents of Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum who refused to repent in spite of witnessing His miracles. Matthew follows these harsh words showing Jesus at prayer with His Father giving thanks for hiding things from the wise and revealing them to children. Families often request this passage for the funeral liturgy of a loved one… “Come to Me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For My yoke is easy, and My burden light.”
Sunday Homily Helps gives this
interpretation, “Jesus now extends
an invitation to all who are burdened by the law as it has been
interpreted by the scribes and Pharisees. The invitation contains a
promise of rest, but this would not be understood as inactivity.
Those invited are encouraged to become yoke-mates with Jesus. A yoke
is an instrument that allows heavy burdens to be carried or pulled
without serious chafing.
This
yoke is really Jesus’ own interpretation of the law, which promises
to be less burdensome. Jesus is not promising less accountability.
He is promising help so that one can more easily bear one’s
responsibility in following God’s will. Notice that the way those
invited are to accomplish this by learning from Jesus Himself. He,
too, bears a yoke and the invitation is to share that yoke and thus
learn from Him. Here the key to bearing one’s yoke is a close
imitation of Jesus’ gentleness and His being humble of heart.
All this will allow two things
to happen. First, a heavy burden can still be managed. Second, that
burden will seem much lighter because Jesus Himself is providing
assistance. As yoke-mates with Jesus, we can say with Him that our
yoke is easy and our burden light.”
So I look at what is disturbing my peace right now: am I letting Jesus help me in carrying these ‘crosses’. I can never find peace on my own, it is only in Jesus that I find true peace. What do I need to do to let go of my own self and let Jesus be God to me...the Spirit to be God to me...the Father to be God to me?
So I reflect on:
- What internal burdens do I carry around with me? Is there a
reason that I do not ask God to help me?
- What external burdens weigh me down? Do I actively bring
these concerns in prayer to God?
- Looking back over my spiritual journey, what are the
different ways I have perceived the Messiah? When have I
experienced Jesus as gentle?
“I
approach the scriptures not only with my mind, trying to figure out
and understand. The Word of God is spoken to my heart and comes to
life when I respect the insights that God gives to me in simple
ways.’
I know
it is easy to feel weighted down when I struggle on my own. I
consider what it is like to carry my burdens with Jesus’ help. He
promises that His attitudes of humility and gentleness will make a
difference.”
I am called to be Jesus…I love the famous saying of the late
Archbishop Helder Camara of Brazil. “When
I gave food to the poor they called me a saint. When I asked why the
poor were hungry, they called me a communist.”
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