14th Sunday of the Year (A)

(Edited) Sunday reflections: (From) Years 2014 (A), 2015 (B), and 2016 (C)

July 6, 2014
Liturgical readings
Zechariah 9:9-10
Psalm 145
Romans 8:9, 11-13
Matthew 11:25-30

"Learn from Christ and find rest."

If one observes children, it is easy to recognize their openness to learn. That was one reason Jesus was close to children; they are trusting, and more attentive to Him. Most adults tend to have a set of principles already established in their way of life and work. And it is this that can make many resistant and closed to new ideas. Such were the Pharisees and the scribes of Jesus' time. When Jesus spoke about the Kingdom of God to them, they hearts were closed. But the other people around Jesus who were humble and had a childlike trust, listened to what Christ had to say. These were often simple folks: the fishermen, the shepherds, those at the marketplace and all who walk in the public squares.

From that biblical time and along the historical continuum of the Catholic faith, there are Saints in the Church who place great value on humility as a path to Christian maturity. To name a few who were really influential on this spirituality: we have St. Therese of the Child Jesus, St. Bruno of Cologne, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Francis of Paola, St. Ephrem of Syria, and St. Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows. These Saints have listened well to the words of Christ and learned how to be open, attentive and trust in His will. This entailed humility, seeing their rightful place in comparison to a God who created everything they saw in the world. It was humility that made them see who they are in both their strengths and weaknesses: the former for works of mercy, and the latter for prayer.

Simplicity and humility are easy to practice once a Christian is accustomed to the discipline of seeking God's will and acting on it. For simplicity and humility will grant the grace to avoid pride and other habits of sin. One has to take care not to let pride insidiously take root in the soul. For this will obscure a path to virtue and deafen one's ears to the voice of Christ. And it could make the Christian less diligent to listen to the Word of God in the Eucharist. The discipline of seeking God's will is in the desire to reform one's life, celebrate God's mercy in the Eucharist, and act on His will in the very circumstances every faithful soul lives and works in. This discipline makes one's life well-ordered and in its rightful place with others. Once the discipline is learned, it ceases to become a sorrow and a burden. For it is in the discipline of Christ's yoke that we attain life and find rest.

Scripture quotes for reflection:
"Our souls will find rest in Christ, for His yoke is easy and His burden light." (Matthew 11)