FINDING STRENGTH AND REST IN LABOUR

Meditation for the 14^th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A
(Zech 9:9-10; Rm 8:9, 11-13; Mt 11:25-30)

Against the backdrop that the rulers and influential people are the outspoken and powerful in society, the prophet Zechariah declares to Zion, saying, “Behold, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on a donkey.” The prophet explains that this King, who would ride on a young donkey would destroy the chariots from Ephraim and the war horse from Jerusalem; “He shall command peace to the nations”, and His dominion shall reach the ends of the earth. Ordinarily, the more aggressive and violent leaders overthrow the gentle and weak ones.

 

This principle of exercising power and control has filtered into our everyday life. Often times, the gentle and humble are perceived as boring and dull. The aggressive and violent presume they have the right to get whatever they want. People we commonly project to lead are often those who are forward and outspoken. Those who are calm and recollective, humble and gentle, do not gather much clout and friends. In a world that is laden with a competitive attitude, aggressive and violent people seem to be having a field day. One of the turbulent storms that is trying to wreck marriages today is power tussle. The fear of being under authority has become an epidemic among the younger generation.   

 

The prophecy of Zechariah is fulfilled in Jesus Christ, which was clearly manifested during his triumphant entry into Jerusalem (Mt 21:1-5). Jesus is the meek and humble King, who came to save us from the bondage of evil and grant us peace and eternal life. As He humbled Himself, taking our human form, in Him God has revealed Himself the ‘infants’, i.e. the humble and lowly in heart. This is the new way God reveals His life and power, which escapes the wisdom and understanding of wordily minded. Since Jesus is the Incarnate Wisdom, and the only way to the divine life, He says, “No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and any one to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.”

 

Therefore, Jesus invites us to come to Him with our labors and heavy laden and find rest. He says, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Thus, we must model our hearts after Jesus, bearing His joke of humility. That is the only way we can find peace in our hearts, homes and society. Aggression and violence will keep us restless and powerless.

 

Our response to the divine invitation Jesus offers is made possible by the working of the Holy Spirit, who dwells in us. From within, the Holy Spirit makes available and applies to us the life of Jesus. So, the strength to bear the joke, and the rest Jesus gives, are animated within us by the Holy Spirit. St. Paul says in the second reading, “If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through the Spirit who dwells in you.” Hence, we are debtors, not to the flesh but to the Holy Spirit. We respond to the invitation of Jesus by opening up our hearts to the promptings of the Spirit through meditation, prayer and virtuous life. And we must avoid sin, which tends to cover the light of the Spirit from shining out in us. In this way, we shall accomplish all our labors, and there shall be no burden too heavy for us to bear, for, “I can do all things in Him who strengthens me” (Phil 4:13). Amen.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.

Sunday July 9^th, 2023.

www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

12^th Anniversary of my Ordination