Matthew 11,25-30
As we now go back to the gospel readings from “ordinary time,” we’re about half-way through Matthew’s gospel with this Sunday’s reading. Jesus seems to be looking back over his activities and what his life and preaching had accomplished thus far. He considers what he has achieved, his successes, his failures, and he comes to this unmistakable conclusion: His message had practically no effect on the wealthy, the learned, and the powerful of ancient Jewish society.
The ones who seem to really hear his message and accept it with joy, are only a small group of disciples who come from the poorest and most humble parts of society. In fact, most often the people who accepted his preaching, were rejected, scorned, judged sinners, unworthy and outcasts, people no one else in “proper” society wanted anything to do with!
Now, you would think that if you really wanted to change the world, you’d have to start with the leaders, those with the most power and influence...Presidents, Church leaders, heads of commerce and business, and yet in Jesus’ time, these were the very folks that just seemed unable to hear and accept the Good News. But instead of being disappointed, the gospel of today begins with one of the very few prayers of Jesus: I bless you, Father, Lord of heaven and of earth, for hiding these things from the learned and the clever and revealing them to mere children.
These words do not mean that God purposely annoys the learned or the important people, or that He doesn’t like them. He is simply acknowledging a fact: the poor, the humble and the mostly lowly have been the first to accept and welcome Jesus’ words of freedom and liberation: liberation from hatred, fear, shame, and from sin.
We know that God is a friend of the just, that he favors those who behave well, while the gospel keeps repeating that Jesus’ preference is for the despised, those that nobody respects or wants: the blind, the lame, lepers, the deaf, public sinners, prostitutes. But why is this so?
Ah...because they are those who need his love the most, and know it. The wise, the wealthy, those who have knowledge and possessions often feel that they are “independent” or “self-sufficient” and of course, by very definition believe they don’t really need God in their lives, or just on Sundays.
And so each of us is challenged to place ourselves within this Gospel. Where do I fall? How much do I really admit I need the Lord in my life? Or do I kind of forget about God, until some crisis in my life or think that my religious vows, or just coming to mass each week is enough?
You see, what Jesus reminds us today is that ALL are welcome in this chapel, ALL are welcome to hear, accept and live the gospel. But, Jesus can only enter your heart, and soul and life, if you invite him. And you can only truly invite him, when you admit you need him. All are welcome and Jesus says to each one:
Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.
This is an invitation from Jesus to you, an invitation calling for a response. What will you say?
As we now go back to the gospel readings from “ordinary time,” we’re about half-way through Matthew’s gospel with this Sunday’s reading. Jesus seems to be looking back over his activities and what his life and preaching had accomplished thus far. He considers what he has achieved, his successes, his failures, and he comes to this unmistakable conclusion: His message had practically no effect on the wealthy, the learned, and the powerful of ancient Jewish society.
The ones who seem to really hear his message and accept it with joy, are only a small group of disciples who come from the poorest and most humble parts of society. In fact, most often the people who accepted his preaching, were rejected, scorned, judged sinners, unworthy and outcasts, people no one else in “proper” society wanted anything to do with!
Now, you would think that if you really wanted to change the world, you’d have to start with the leaders, those with the most power and influence...Presidents, Church leaders, heads of commerce and business, and yet in Jesus’ time, these were the very folks that just seemed unable to hear and accept the Good News. But instead of being disappointed, the gospel of today begins with one of the very few prayers of Jesus: I bless you, Father, Lord of heaven and of earth, for hiding these things from the learned and the clever and revealing them to mere children.
These words do not mean that God purposely annoys the learned or the important people, or that He doesn’t like them. He is simply acknowledging a fact: the poor, the humble and the mostly lowly have been the first to accept and welcome Jesus’ words of freedom and liberation: liberation from hatred, fear, shame, and from sin.
We know that God is a friend of the just, that he favors those who behave well, while the gospel keeps repeating that Jesus’ preference is for the despised, those that nobody respects or wants: the blind, the lame, lepers, the deaf, public sinners, prostitutes. But why is this so?
Ah...because they are those who need his love the most, and know it. The wise, the wealthy, those who have knowledge and possessions often feel that they are “independent” or “self-sufficient” and of course, by very definition believe they don’t really need God in their lives, or just on Sundays.
And so each of us is challenged to place ourselves within this Gospel. Where do I fall? How much do I really admit I need the Lord in my life? Or do I kind of forget about God, until some crisis in my life or think that my religious vows, or just coming to mass each week is enough?
You see, what Jesus reminds us today is that ALL are welcome in this chapel, ALL are welcome to hear, accept and live the gospel. But, Jesus can only enter your heart, and soul and life, if you invite him. And you can only truly invite him, when you admit you need him. All are welcome and Jesus says to each one:
Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.
This is an invitation from Jesus to you, an invitation calling for a response. What will you say?
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