Heavy Lies the Crown

Jul 9: Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

God is Lord of all. But we might forget that, so Jesus reminds us with signs and wonders.

Reading 1

Zec 9:9-10

Thus says the LORD: Rejoice heartily, O daughter Zion, shout for joy, O daughter Jerusalem! See, your king shall come to you; a just savior is he, meek, and riding on an ass, on a colt, the foal of an ass. He shall banish the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem; the warrior's bow shall be banished, and he shall proclaim peace to the nations. His dominion shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth.

In ancient times, a king riding a donkey didn’t mean he was poor; it meant he was coming in peace. He would get rid of weapons of war, like chariots and bows, and proclaim peace everywhere.

It’s so weird people weren’t expecting a peaceful messiah.

Responsorial Psalm

Ps 145:1-2, 8-9, 10-11, 13-14

R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
I will extol you, O my God and King,
and I will bless your name forever and ever.
Every day will I bless you,
and I will praise your name forever and ever.
R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
The LORD is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and of great kindness.
The LORD is good to all
and compassionate toward all his works.
R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your kingdom
and speak of your might.
R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
The LORD is faithful in all his words
and holy in all his works.
The LORD lifts up all who are falling
and raises up all who are bowed down.
R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.

Everyone is called on everyone, all creation to praise God. We owe thanks and praise for everything He’s done, more than any Earthly king.

Reading 2

Rom 8:9, 11-13

Brothers and sisters: You are not in the flesh; on the contrary, you are in the spirit, if only the Spirit of God dwells in you. Whoever does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, the one who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also, through his Spirit that dwells in you. Consequently, brothers and sisters, we are not debtors to the flesh, to 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.

We aren’t just flesh and bone; we are also spirits. We are ensouled bodies and embodied souls. Our bodies will die, but that’s not the end for us. Our spirits are eternal, and our bodies will rise again at some point.

So, we can’t just focus on this one physical life, but our spiritual life, as well.

Alleluia

Cf. Mt 11:25

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth;
you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the kingdom.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

God is Lord not just of Earth, where our bodies live, but of Heaven, where our spirits will be.

Gospel

Mt 11:25-30

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 little ones. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my 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."

"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."

You can talk yourself out of believing in something, but little kids believe what they see. The purpose of Jesus’ miracles was to demonstrating His dominion over the world. Most of the people who saw the miracles came to believe; but the Pharisees and other wise men came up with all sorts of clever reasons why what they saw didn’t mean Jesus was who he said he was.

That’s why we must take up His yoke, to let Him guide us with His actions, rather than try and argue with His words.