July 9, 2017

14th Sunday in Ordinary Time A Zechariah 9: 9-10; Romans 8: 9, 11-13; Matthew 11: 25-30 How often have we used the expression, ‘Will there ever be a time…? Then we insert in the blanks: when there is peace in the world…when people will not be greedy…when all people will respect everyone and their religious, cultural and political viewpoints…when there will be no more killing and violence…no more abortions and death penalties…when all life is respected from the womb to the tomb? Will there ever be a time when my family will get along with each other? Will there ever be a time when people will live what Jesus taught? Will there ever be a time when all this will happen? Today’s readings address these points by turning us in the direction Jesus points out; the direction of knowing He is with us, cares for us and gives us help always. Are we listening or do our minds and motives get in the way? Zechariah starts his work by sharing some symbolic visions. The Jewish exiles have returned. There is much to do. The temple in Jerusalem has to be rebuilt and rededicated. There is much to be hopeful for but they are afraid. The nations around them are strong and powerful, Israel is their enemy. The prophet tells them wonderful things will happen but they have to put God first in their lives. They must trust God. We must trust God. Do we believe that God has a plan for our salvation? Jesus explained this plan. Zechariah explains the plan by predicting an end to wars and divisions. The Messiah, the eschatological king will bring peace. He comes in a unique way, riding on a beast of burden used for farming and for transport. He does not come on a war horse as leader of an army. This king will abolish all the trappings of warfare. There will be no need for a show of military strength. This messiah king’s rule will extend all over the world. Matthew quotes Zechariah in 21:7 when Jesus enters Jerusalem in the Palm Sunday procession. “Say to daughter Zion, ‘behold, your king comes to you, meek and riding on an ass, and on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’” I’m sure it was very difficult for Zechariah’s listeners to believe that this could ever happen. The same thoughts are real in us when we see the condition of the world with violence, wars, no respect for life, and following the god they want god to be. Zechariah concludes today’s segment saying, “…and he shall proclaim peace to the nations. His dominion shall be from sea to sea, and from the river to then ends of the earth.” Do we understand peace as Jesus meant? Luke says when the apostles were in the Upper Room listening to the accounts of the Resurrection, Jesus appeared and said, “‘Peace be with you.’ But they were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost. Then He said to them ’Why are you troubled? And why do questions arise in your hearts. Look at My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself.’” They had big time trouble recognizing God’s plan…I’m sure we would be in the exact position. But this is God’s plan. God is in control. Listen! Paul tells the Romans that their previous way of living was totally consumed with themselves. Then they came to the realization of what Jesus taught them: they have the Spirit of God living in them. They are loved by God and are to be known by their love. This is how they are to live. This is how we are to live. Because we are loved, all the time, we should live a life of constant gratitude, recognizing our debt to God for the gift of our salvation. That’s why Paul uses the expression, ‘we no longer live according to the flesh. “For if you live according to the flesh, you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” Todays gospel from Mathew is set right in the midst of Jesus being rejected by the ‘religious professionals’. The chapter starts out with John the Baptist in prison and he sends his disciples to Jesus asking, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” Jesus responds “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised , and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them. And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me.” Then Jesus began to “reproach the towns where most of His mighty deeds had been done, since they had not repented.” Then Jesus changes course and praises God for having revealed mysteries to the ‘little ones’ that are hidden from the ‘wise’. The 'wise' is a reference to the scribes and the Pharisees; the ‘little ones’ refers to Jesus' disciples. God has a plan. The plan includes an enormous invitation, “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.” Look how Jesus starts: “Come to Me…” Life is bigger than little old me. There is something much bigger to life. Jesus has something much more for each person. Do I trust? Just like the Israelites and the Romans, we all have difficulties that surround us. We sit and complain about our lives. We do our complaining by comparing…'why do bad things happen to me?’ Do we look at the progression of scripture stories starting with Genesis and the Fall? Adam and Eve did what they wanted, what they thought would bring them happiness. The history continuing with Abraham and the wandering of the Jewish nation in the desert and their constant complaining and doing what they wanted to do. It seems that it is the consistent habit passed down through the ages to rely on ourselves. How often do we rely on the Lord? Jesus said, “Come to Me…” Why would He say that if there was another way? Therefore, there isn’t another way. All life is about God’s eternal plan. It includes the way, the only way that we go to heaven. God loves us and shows us the way and helps us. “Take My yoke upon you…” Jesus explains more about this way: the thing about yokes is that they must be operated by two. That’s where Jesus part comes in; He helps us with our burdens. Do we go to Him? Do we trust Him? It is good for us to remember Jesus’ words. In Matthew 7:7 Jesus states, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” Jesus never said that this will happen immediately. We feel it should. Does He always help us? ABSOLUTELY! Matthew 7:9 continues: “Which one of you would hand his son a stone when he asks for a loaf of bread, or a snake when he asks for a fish? If you then who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask Him.” So I reflect on: • When has thinking that you ‘knew it all’ got in the way of your learning and growing? • Every life is burdened with disappointments that we can’t control. How come we do not go to Jesus? Do we feel that He doesn’t care? Do we feel He can’t do anything? • Why do we feel that our hurts, pains and disappointments mean that God doesn’t care? • What is the difference between happiness and gratitude? Sacred Space 2017 states: “Jesus is inviting those who are not in the comfort zone, who feel oppressed by anxiety and uncertainty. Lord, I do not ask that you bring my life completely under control; to be mortal is to face uncomfortable realities. I beg You to be my uncomfortable comfort zone. In this passage of Scripture, Jesus offers us a lifeline, “Come to me…” He says. Sounds simple, doesn’t it? And yet we find it difficult to believe that reaching out to Jesus can make a difference. Lord, You invite us to take Your hand and walk with You; how stubborn we can be sometimes. Help us receive Your whispered invitation and respond with faith