1st Reading: Zac 9:9-10
Psalm: Ps
145: 1-2, 8-9, 10-11, 13-14
2nd Reading: Rom 9:11-1 -
Gospel Mt 11:25-30
Themes
From the readings of this Sunday, let us
meditate upon the following themes: The coming of God’s kingdom, life in the
Spirit, and the cost of discipleship (A yoke that is easy and a burden that is light)
Preliminary Insight
In
a certain kingdom ruled by a great and fierce King, there lived an old Catholic
Priest. This old priest was full of virtues and wisdom. The King liked the way
this Priest lived and he wished that this priest instructs his sons on how to
become great kings in future. Therefore, the Priest out of his experience
instructed them to imitate Christ, “The greatest man who ever lived.”
When the King noticed that his sons had started loving their enemies, serving
the sick and the marginalized and sharing their food with the needy, he was
greatly disturbed! He summoned the old priest to explain all that mess. The
Priest simply narrated to him the life story Jusus Christ of Nazareth who
surrendered everything even his precious life for the sake of us men. At this
incident, the King was deeply touched and got converted. He thus asked the
Priest to convert not only his family, but his entire Kingdom.
The Coming of God’s Kingdom
In
the first reading, the Prophet Zachariah points out to the coming of Jesus our
savior. He invites the people to shout with joy and gladness in the cities of
Zion and Jerusalem upon the coming of the reign of God. Christ the “Sent” of
the Father comes as a righteous and humble king. He comes to set his people
free from all their enemies and to establish the peaceful kingdom among them.
He sets an example to the earthly kings, not to be rulers but leaders of the
People of God.
Life in the Spirit
In
the 2nd reading, St. Paul through his Letter to the Romans comes with
a guide on how to become a citizen of the peaceful kingdom where Christ rules
as the eternal King. This kingdom is more spiritual than actual. The
inhabitants of this kingdom though living in the flesh at the moment, must be guided
by the Spirit of the God. The Spirit of the risen Lord will then put to death
the deeds of their flesh and give life to their mortal bodies. However, the
reverse is true for those who will chose to live according the pleasures flesh.
A Yoke that is Easy and a Burden that is Light
In
the Gospel according to St Mathew 11:25-30, Jesus praises his Father for having
revealed the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven to the childlike, though from
the wise these mysteries remain concealed. To be childlike implies being humble
and dependent on the wisdom, power and providence of God. Jesus Christ has been
entrusted with the power over everything under the sun, even the powerful
rulers and kings of the earth bow before Him. Today Jesus invites those who are
burdened and weary to come to him for relief and find rest in Him. Being gentle
and humble of heart, he provides comfort and help to those who approach him.
Those who take up Christ’s yoke and voluntarily follow him are his true
disciples, they learn from him and rest in him. For his yoke is easy and his
burden is light. This depicts the comfort and relief of being a disciple in a
Christlike manner.
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Takeaway Remark
In
his Autobiography number 428, St. Anthony Mary Claret prays with a lot of
admiration for the grace to imitate the virtues that shine through the life of
Christ especially the virtues of: humility, obedience and meekness. Today he is
numbered among the inhabitants of the heavenly kingdom. Let us in a like manner strive for the same
virtues as they shine through all the three reading of this Sunday.
God Blass You!
Gerald Lubwama
II Year Theology
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