Homily-Fourteenth Sunday of Year A, Fr. Udoeko, Michael
Jesus, the Giver of Rest In moments
of Danger and Pandemics (C)
v Zech
9:9-10
v Ps
145:1-2, 8-11, 13-14
v Rom
8:9, 11-13
v Matt
11:25-30
“Come to me, all you that are weary and
are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon
you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find
rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matt
11:28-30).
This
text from today’s Gospel of Matthew sets the tone for Christ
messages of hope, peace, healing mercy, and optimism that run through, that permeates
today’s Scriptures. In today’s scriptures Christ, is not only the peacemaker, but
he is the source of hope for all, especially the weak and humble of heart. He
will always be on the side of the poor, the infants, the little ones, those who
practice humility, the elderly, the afflicted, the rejected, and the oppressed
(in any form). In our own case today, he surely, watches over all of us who are
afflicted and over-burdened by the ongoing pandemic- the mask wearing, the
constant hand sanitizing, and the social distancing. With this pandemic many
have lost their loved ones and jobs and livelihood. But, the good news is that
which Christ has promised us today, that “his yoke is easy and his burden is
light,” that there is hope for refreshment, for peace and for rest for each and
every one of us, who are humble and who trust in him!
.
That
word” rest” (anaapauw in Greek) which we heard in today’s gospel
is very important. It is an umbrella biblical term. It is quite significant. It
connotes not just relaxation and refreshment, but it means peace, justice, prosperity, reconciliation, equality before
God, and freedom from the status quo—from
the empty legalism of the scribes and Pharisees, from the know-it-alls are all
on the way. It means liberty and entry into the Promised Land, as well as the fulfillment
of all that the Lord promised us in the Old Testament through the mouths of his
messengers and prophets are within reach. It means healing from all diseases, including
the ongoing covid-19.
In
spite of this corona virus, God’s promise of “rest” to each us is real. It is evident
in the very fact that you and I are here today. We are able to gradually, or
slowly come back to the Church, today, to celebrate mass, to receive our Lord, to
interact with one another. And I was able to fly in here, all the way from
Milwaukee through Tennessee—long connecting flight, with everybody putting on mask.
Even though we still have our masks on, and distance ourselves socially from
one another, at least there is hope. It is refreshing to be here; to see one
another in person, not just on TV, or face book, or speak just on telephone or communicate
through emails social media. For me today is better than two months ago. Our shops
are gradually reopening. I am sure our offices, airports and schools will soon
reopen, following science and data that God has enabled us and humanity to tap
into, to navigate, and to explore! In other words, today’s scripture is about
the message of hope, faith and optimism. These divine promises and fulfilment are
real, universal and timeless.
As
we heard in the first reading from the prophet Zechariah, he made and fulfilled
similar promises to ancient Israel’s community who had just come back from
exile. Their challenges were not a covid-19 exile, or the burden of wearing a
mask, like ours, but a political exile. Being freed politically brought them
joy and consolation. Reacting to this freedom the Prophet Zechariah says,
“Rejoice greatly, O daughter Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Lo,
your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on a
donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. He will cut off the chariot from
Ephraim and the war-horse from Jerusalem; and the battle bow shall be cut off,
and he shall command peace to the nations” (Zech 9:9-10).
Even
though our society today is in tumult because of this pandemic and other
socio-political and cultural misunderstandings all hope for peace, safety and
good health, is not lost for those who believe and trust in the Lord. The Lord
reassures us today that a time will come when we will no longer require mask. Don’t
forget there are some people who are out there, who are skeptical about what
the Lord can do—peace, his healing and reconciliation power through his
prophets. We have always had such people since the time of ancient prophets,
the more reasons many of them were rejected and persecuted because they bore
the message of hope.
Christ,
a prophet, suffered the same in the hands of the Pharisees and the scribes, the
so-called “learned and the wise,” as depicted in today’s Gospel, Matthew 11.
They rejected Christ and his healing message. Let this be a lesson for us
today. Of course acceptance of Christ and his message of hope that this
pandemic will come and go, that the unrest on our street will come and go,
depends on God’s revelation and our disposition to receive him. It is a gift
for those who are humble, meek, and open to reconciliation and to receiving the
gifts of the Holy Spirit and the mysteries of his kingdom.
From
his own personal experiences as an Apostle of the Gentile Saint Paul in the Second
reading, Romans 8, speaks of the importance of this spirit. He says, “But you
are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in
you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him” (Rom
8:9).
In
other words, we need the spirit of Christ to be able to cope with the
challenges of this covid-19, and other burdens we face today in our nations. The
Spirit of Christ is, the spirit of hope, the spirit of endurance, the spirit of
love, peace and reconciliation. Optimism that this pandemic will come and go
and that Christ remains the giver of rest, the true source of healing and
peace.
Reflection Questions:
1.
How do you relate to today’s readings and liturgy?
2.
Do you see in Christ-- the give and source of rest and peace?
3.
How do you handle temptation and this pandemic in the light of Christ?
4.
In your daily challenges, and burdens do you find rest in the Lord?
============================================================
