July 6, 2014
Fourteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time
Gospel Matthew 11: 25 - 30
This Gospel takes place after Jesus reproached the unrepentant towns. We are
told that, "he began to reproach the towns where most of his mighty deeds had
been done, since they had not repented." (Matthew 11:20.) He criticizes those
who refused to listen to his teachings and acknowledge his mighty deeds. Jesus
transitions from rebuking to giving thanks to the father and we find ourselves
listening to him in his prayer and learn that although the wise and clever seem
to be blind to who Jesus is, the little ones see and understand. He shows who
his is, The Son of the Father, and the unity of the Father and the Son.
Although the Holy Spirit is not mentioned in this passage, we were introduced to
the Holy Spirit at the beginning of Matthew's Gospel when he tells us of the
birth of Jesus. This unity of the Trinity is also seen when Jesus is Baptized
by John, and again at the end of the Gospel when the apostles and disciples are
commissioned to go forth and Baptize "in the name of the Father, and of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit." After the rebuking and the instruction of who he is,
Jesus describes himself as being "meek and humble of heart," He gives them the
invitation to come to him, where they will find rest.
Reflecting on the above the thought that comes to me is that of the Mass. We
hopefully arrive at Mass with a repentant spirit, and not unrepentant as the
people whom Jesus rebuked. We place our desire for forgiveness before the Lord,
we hear the readings and homily that give us instruction on who God is, and we
profess our faith. After this we have the invitation to share in the Lord's
presence in the Eucharist. We listen as the celebrant calls upon the Father to
send the Holy Spirit upon the bread and wine so that they become the body and
blood of Jesus. We encounter the unity of the Trinity, and are invited to come
with our burdens and be refreshed by receiving Jesus in Holy Communion. We are
blessed to be able to enter into this sacrifice, sacrament and mystery so
frequently.
This Gospel calls us to look at our lives and to seriously examine the sincerity
and depth of our repentance. Do we honestly bare our souls before the Lord, not
only at the beginning of Mass but also in the Sacrament of Penance? Do we take
time to listen to God's word in the Scriptures and as expounded on in homilies,
teachings and spiritual writings? Are our ears and hearts open to the depth of
God's word, even as it challenges us to change our views on particular issues
and make our mind more and more like the mind of God?
We can struggle with and through these questions, but in the midst of this, we
should not lose sight of the invitation Jesus gives to us. It is the invitation
to bring him our burdens, to give them to him and to allow him to receive them
from us with his meek and gentle heart. It is the invitation to find rest. The
act of repentance and the attentive learning of God's word both prepare us to
make the act of Faith by which we can surrender ourselves to God. True
surrender is far more than saying the right words or maintaining the correct
posture, it is the deep conversion within us that opens us more and more to the
beautiful presence of God.
Fr. Killian Loch, O.S.B.
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