Daily Readings - Sun Jul 09 2023
Zechariah
9Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.10I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the war horse from Jerusalem; and the battle bow shall be cut off, and he shall speak peace to the nations; his rule shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth.
Romans
9You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.11If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.12So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.13For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
Matthew
25At that time Jesus declared, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children;26yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.27All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.28Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.29Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.30For my yoke is easy, 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.