14th Sunday in Ordinary Time

July 9, 2017

Readings:

First Reading – Zechariah 9:9-10

Psalm 145

Second Reading – Romans 8:9, 11-13

Gospel reading according to Matthew (11:25-30)

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Homily

Jesus, very often prayed to God on our behalf.  He never forgot us and our prayers as well to include in his prayers to his loving Father.  He included our needs and wants in his prayers to the Almighty and Merciful God, the loving Father.  As what he prayed to God his Father, “At that time Jesus exclaimed: ‘I give praise to you Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the little ones’” (Mt. 11:25).  The simplicity and humility and the mystery of life is hidden from the wise and the learned. For the wise and the learned, they do not need God, because they know everything and they are all-knowing.  They can answers all the questions of the earth and of heaven because of their learnings and studies.  But the little one, the ordinary and simple ones like us, the mystery of life is revealed for we need God, not because we lack talents, abilities and intelligence, but because we know who God is in our life – we accepted that God provides our needs, that we are limited, and that we do not know all things in heaven and on earth, that we need God.  God our Creator knows what we need, if we have a humble and simple heart, and ready to accept from God all the blessings we need in our lives here on earth.   When God comes in our lives, he does not show his power, authority, supremacy but as a humble and forgiving God, a serving God who is ready to lay down his life for us – his adopted children, the hidden mystery of God’s plan for us.   “Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will.  All things have been handed over to me by my Father” (Mt. 11:26-27). To Jesus everything is given by God the Father.  All knowledge and wisdom of heaven and earth is revealed by God to Jesus his Son.  Nothing is hidden to Jesus, even the secret of the Father. “No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him” (Mt. 11:27).  As the Father knows the Son and the Son knows the Father, for the Son comes from the Father and the Father begotten the Son.  And the Son allows knowing the Father to whom he wishes to reveal the Father how good the Father is.

Like his Father, the Son our Lord Jesus Christ, is the only one can help us in our misery and helpless conditions, for he can refresh our tired mind, body and soul, as he said: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest” (Mt. 11:28).  Just go to him and lean on him and even lay on him and you can find sleep for your tired body after long days of work.  “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”(Mt. 11:29-30).