Daily Readings - Sun Jul 05 2020

⁹Rejoice well, daughter of Zion, shout for joy, daughter of Jerusalem. Behold, your King will come to you: the Just One, the Savior. He is poor and riding upon a donkey, and upon a colt, the son of a donkey¹⁰And I will scatter the four-horse chariot out of Ephraim and the horse from Jerusalem, and the bow of war will be destroyed. And he will speak peace to the Gentiles, and his power will be from sea to sea, and from the rivers even to the end of the earth

Romans

Chapter 8

⁹And you are not in the flesh, but in the spirit, if it is true that the Spirit of God lives within you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to him¹¹But if the Spirit of him who raised up Jesus from the dead lives within you, then he who raised up Jesus Christ from the dead shall also enliven your mortal bodies, by means of his Spirit living within you¹²Therefore, brothers, we are not debtors to the flesh, so as to live according to the flesh¹³For if you live according to the flesh, you will die. But if, by the Spirit, you mortify the deeds of the flesh, you shall live

Matthew

Chapter 11

²⁵At that time, Jesus responded and said: "I acknowledge you, Father, Lord of Heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the prudent, and have revealed them to little ones²⁶Yes, Father, for this was pleasing before you²⁷All things have been delivered to me by my Father. And no one knows the Son except the Father, nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and those to whom the Son is willing to reveal him²⁸Come to me, all you who labor and have been burdened, and I will refresh you²⁹Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you shall find rest for your souls³⁰For my yoke is sweet and my burden is light.

Sermon

In today's readings, we encounter profound messages of humility, peace, and the invitation to a life guided by the Spirit. The prophet Zechariah announces the arrival of a humble King, who comes not in power or splendor, but on a donkey, symbolizing meekness and peace. This King will bring an end to war and extend His dominion universally. In Romans, Paul contrasts life in the flesh with life in the Spirit, urging believers to mortify the flesh and live according to the Spirit, promising life and peace. Jesus, in Matthew, invites the weary to come to Him, offering rest and a light burden, emphasizing meekness and humility as the path to true freedom. These readings are deeply interconnected. Zechariah's prophecy finds fulfillment in Jesus, who embodies the humility and peace the prophet foretold. Paul's exhortation to live by the Spirit aligns with Jesus' invitation to take on His yoke, which is light and sweet. Together, they call us to embrace a life of humility and trust in God's Spirit, rejecting the burdens of the flesh. In our daily lives, these readings invite us to reflect on how we approach challenges and burdens. Jesus' invitation to come to Him reminds us that true strength lies in humility and trust. By living according to the Spirit, as Paul encourages, we can find the peace and rest that Jesus offers. Let us turn to Him in our weariness, embracing humility and meekness, and allow His Spirit to guide us, leading us to a life of lightness and joy.