XIV Sunday in OT:[A]: Zec 9: 9-10; Rom 8: 9, 11-13; Mt 11: 25-30

XIV Sunday in OT:[A]: Zec 9: 9-10; Rom 8: 9, 11-13; Mt 11: 25-30

Introduction: Today’s Gospel tells us about the Heart of Jesus. It gives us these words of comfort: “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.” 

Explanation: What do they mean for us?    They tell us something about God that is very different than the images of God we might have.  Many of our images are of the Almighty Awesome Creator of the Universe.  We think of the great frescos on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel as Michelangelo portrayed God creating the universe with a dazzling display of power.  We think of the image of creation of Adam, and God’s powerful hand touching the limp finger of the first man giving him life.  Or we think of some of the wonders of nature and we remember that God is the Awesome Creator.

We often have images of God as the Judge of the living and dead. Judgment comes accordingly the things we have done. There is reward or punishment waiting, there is mercy and compassion, but there is also justice.  Again, going back to the Sistine Chapel, Michelangelo depicts the scene of the Last Judgment showing the joy of the saved and the grief of the condemned.  Jesus is the Just and Merciful Judge.

To be meek is to be patient and gentle.  It is not the surrender of rights or some form of cowardice, but the opposite of sudden anger, of malice and of long harbored vengeance.  Jesus is meek.  He is not waiting for the right time to strike us down for what we have done to Him, how we have attacked His Holiness with our sins, how we have attacked those whom He loves, or how we have put him out of our lives.  He is gentle.  He is patient with us.

In the Gospel, Jesus offers rest to those “who labor and are burdened” if they will accept his “easy yoke and light burden.” By declaring that his “yoke is light,” Jesus means that whatever God sends us is made to fit our needs and our abilities exactly. The second part of Jesus’ claim is: "My burden is light." Jesus does not mean that the burden is easy to carry, but that it is laid on us in love and is meant to be carried in love, and that love makes even the heaviest burden light.

Joke: A woman was walking along the beach when she stumbled upon a Genie's lamp. She picked it up and rubbed it, and lo-and-behold a Genie appeared. The amazed woman asked if she was going to receive the usual three wishes.

The Genie said, "Nope ... due to inflation, constant downsizing, low wages in third-world countries, and fierce global competition, I can only grant you one wish. So ... what'll it be?"

The woman didn't hesitate. She said, "I want peace in the Middle East. See this map? I want these countries to stop fighting with each other."

The Genie looked at the map and exclaimed, "Gadzooks, lady! These countries have been at war for thousands of years. I'm good, but not THAT good! I don't think it can be done. Make another wish."

The woman thought for a minute and said, "Well, I've never been able to find the right man. You know, one that's considerate and fun, likes to cook and helps with the housecleaning, is good with me and gets along with my family, doesn't watch sports all the time, and is faithful. That's what I wish for ... a good mate."

The Genie let out a long sigh and said, "Oh… Let me see that map! And think what I can do with those countries! "

Practical Applications:  1) Unload our burdens on the Lord through prayers. During the Holy Mass, we have to place our stress-filled lives on the altar and allow Jesus to cool down our overheated hectic lives.  We also unload the burdens of our sins and worries on the altar and offer them and ourselves to God with Jesus’ life during the Holy Mass.  During our personal and family prayers in the evening we ask God’s forgiveness for the sins and failures of day and receive the consoling assurance that we are reconciled with God and our fellow human beings. 

2) We take up too many unnecessary burdens or worries in our life: Jesus lays the light burden of his commandment of love on us and yokes us with himself, giving us his strength through the Holy Spirit. Our life is full of love and based on the love of Jesus, then there is no room for worries. 

3) The peace we share during holy mass should be real peace to everyone. We are called, not only to find peace, refreshment and rest for ourselves, but also to live the kind of life through which others, too, may find God's peace, God's refreshing grace, and the joy of placing their lives in God's hands. 

Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time : Introduction

Message:  Jesus gentle and humble of heart, came to bring peace to all people.  We are called to live in his Spirit, to be gracious, merciful, and compassionate to all.

Saints and Events in this Week:  9-Nineth- Wednesday-Saint Augustine Zhao Rong, priest, martyr and his Companions, martyrs; 11-Eleventh-Friday-Saint Benedict, abbot;