DOCTRINE AND FAITH
(Zechariah 9, 9-10; Romans 8, 9, 11-13; Matthew 11, 25-30: 14th Sunday of Year A)
To appreciate the message of hope in today’s first reading better, we need to bear in mind that the Israelites of Zechariah’s time were indeed going through a lot of difficulties. Fresh from exile in Babylon, the people were despaired on seeing the city and the temple of Jerusalem in ruins. But prophet Zechariah encouraged them not to lose hope since the Messiah is sure to come with victorious and triumphant power. But who is this Messiah? He is no other than Jesus Christ who in today’s gospel reveals his very identity to us. He speaks to God the Father, calling him Daddy (Abba) showing his mutual closeness to Him. He is the Son of God, the only Son of the Father. Between him and the Father there is a perfect and total communion, all I have are given by my Father. There is also a reciprocal and perfect knowledge between him and God the Father: no one knows the Father except the Son and no one knows the Son except the Father. In the biblical tradition, especially the wisdom, to know something presumes some form of experiential knowledge. To know another implies intimate knowledge of that person. Jesus here indicates that only God can really know him, because only God has this kind of experiential knowledge of him. Correspondingly, only he can really know God, for only he has experiential knowledge of God. If anyone else know God, it is only because Jesus has revealed God to that person. In this sense, Jesus is the mediator of knowledge of God. From today’s Gospel passage, one can summarise Jesus’ identity as the Son of God, the revealer of the Father and the way that conducts to the Father.
It is, however, important to note that although this Messiah/King will be victorious over all his enemies, he was not going to achieve this victory through the same means as the kings of the earth. He is rather humble and riding on a donkey. This Jesus who is the human manifestation of the divine, is meek and humble. Though divine and, therefore, exalted, Jesus is not proud. On the contrary he is humble. The king depicted in the first reading from Zechariah is humble and full of love and humility, he will banish wars and proclaim peace to the nations, till the ends of the earth. Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem showed that he is the expected Messiah, the peaceful one who, far from the use of weapons of war, would rather conquer human hearts with sympathy and love. He will overturn the burdens of human existence and make the world more habitable. This fact is made clearer in the gospel reading with the following admonition of Christ: Shoulder my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Like the Israelites of Zechariah’s time, we are living in a period marked by distressing situations. Added to the moral depravity we suffer is the brunt of social and economic and political stagnation that has left many confused and bewildered. But, the Lord calls us to himself. He offers us an alternative that will make our burdens lighter and our life more peaceful. He invites us to walk in his footsteps for a change, by living out our lives in kindness, love of all men and humility. By so doing, our undertakings will be much easier and our difficulties more consoling, since Christ would lead the way. Surely, it will be so, if we, as the disciples of Christ, comport ourselves, not as the wise but the simple ones in today’s gospel reading. The wise and intelligent of this world of today are those who feel they are independent of God, self-sufficient, wield absolute power, proudly enjoy positions of prestige, think they can manipulate every person and thing, place their happiness on their wealth and what they are able to achieve and use other people as instrument for their success. The wise are the little and simple ones who depend on God, do not place their security on their wealth or earthly position of power or prestige. Our Christian yoke will be less heavy and very productive if we allow the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Spirit of God (as Paul so indicates Paul in today’s second reading) to lead and guide us. This is the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead, the same Spirit who dwells in every Christian and, therefore, dwells in you and me. Let us from today’s Eucharistic celebration intensify our life in the Spirit, that is to say life attuned to the Triune God. Happy Sunday! +John I. Okoye
grsphics by chukwubike
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