Daily Readings - Sun Jul 09 2023

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

The readings today invite us to reflect on the humility of God and the call to live in harmony with His will. In the first reading from Zechariah, we hear a prophetic announcement of the coming King, who is just and saves, riding humbly on a donkey. This passage, written in a time of hope and longing for Israel’s restoration, points to a Messiah who brings peace and reigns not with power and might, but with simplicity and meekness. The Gospel from Matthew echoes this theme, as Jesus reveals that His yoke is easy and His burden is light. He invites those who are weary to come to Him, promising rest. This invitation is not just for the strong or the wise, but for the humble and the simple, as Jesus thanks the Father for revealing these truths to "little ones." The second reading from Romans reminds us that living as Christians means living in the Spirit, not in the flesh. St. Paul contrasts the life governed by self-interest and worldly desires with the life transformed by the Holy Spirit. He encourages us to mortify the deeds of the flesh and instead live according to the Spirit, which leads to true life. This teaching complements the humility emphasized in the other readings, for living in the Spirit requires surrendering our own will and trusting in God’s plan. These readings call us to embrace humility and simplicity in our daily lives. In a world that often values power, success, and self-reliance, we are reminded that true strength comes from trusting in God and living according to His will. Let us ask ourselves: Do we allow the Spirit to guide us, or do we insist on our own way? Do we approach life with the humility of the "little ones," or do we try to rely on our own understanding? Jesus’ invitation to take His yoke upon us is an invitation to let go of our burdens and find rest in Him. May we learn to live in the Spirit, embracing the humility and trust that leads to true freedom and peace.