14th Sunday Ordinary Time Year A Reflection:
“COME TO ME… LEARN FROM ME.”
Summary vid + full text.
OUTLINE
1. Summary of ideas of today’s readings
God has come to us and He Himself calls us: “Come to me and…learn from me”, at all times. He calls us not only to receive his grace and peace, but also to imitate Him in all His virtues.
- “The Lord is gracious and merciful, he is good to all, and compassionate” to all his creatures (Psalm).
- God’s Infinite goodness is fully manifested in Our Lord Jesus Christ, in whom the prophecy of Zechariah was fulfilled: Thus says the Lord: Rejoice heartily, O daughter Zion, shout for joy, O daughter Jerusalem! See, your king shall come to you; a just savior is he, meek, and riding on an ass, on a colt, the foal of an ass. (1st reading Zec 9:9–10).
He calls us: “Come to me and…learn from me”, at all times, especially when we are overwhelmed and weary by the vicissitudes of life.
- We should go to Him filled with confidence;
- and learn from Him that He “is meek and humble in heart;”
- to fully receive the revelation of the things of God, for “No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him (Gospel, Mt 11:25–30) so that we could receive His promise:
- “If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, the one who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also, through his Spirit that dwells in you. (2nd reading, Rom 8:9, 11–13).
In order to receive all the above, one of Our Lord’s requires to foster the attitudes of humility and simplicity: “I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to little ones.”
2. The importance of humility and simplicity to live in Christ.
The wise and proud of this world, that is, those who rely on their own judgment, cannot accept the revelation which Christ has brought us. Pride and self-sufficiency are obstacles to perceive supernatural things: a person who is full of self-esteem, full of himself, fails to perceive the things of God.
- When pride takes hold of a soul, it is no surprise to find it bringing along with it a whole string of other vices: greed, self-indulgence, envy, injustice. The proud man is always vainly striving to dethrone God, who is merciful to all his creatures, so as to make room for himself and his ever cruel ways. St. Josemaria, Friends of God, n. 100.
- On the other hand, to know God and grow in His love require humility; for a humble person, who gives himself little importance, is pleasant to God’s eyes.
- Humility enables one to empty himself and be filled with God’s grace. It makes room for God to act in one’s life.
One of the fruits of humility is simplicity or naturalness, characteristic of little children who always see themselves in need of help, unassuming, transparent and makes them likeable and lovable.
- Furthermore, simplicity leads one to live the virtue of sincerity in his dealings with God and with others. A simple person doesn’t possess an air of “self-satisfaction”, doesn’t hide his defects, nor complicated.
Dear brethren in Christ, let ask God for the virtues of humility, simplicity and sincerity so that He could give us his grace, his peace, his rest especially whenever we feel the burdens of this life convinced that though any other burden oppresses and crushes us, if we go to Christ, he will actually take weight off from us; though any other burden weighs us down, Christ will gives us the wings to fly and bear it with Christian faith, hope and love (Cf. St Augustine, Sermon 126).
O God, who in the abasement of your Son have raised up a fallen world, grant your faithful holy joy, that those you have rescued from slavery to sin may know eternal gladness.
Opening prayer, 14th Sunday.
Mary, most humble, pray for us!
SEE AS WELL: WHAT IS HUMILITY? WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT? In https://catholicsstrivingforholiness.org/on-humility-know-thyself-why-is-it-so-important-humility-the-basis-of-all-virtues-the-dwelling-place-of-love/
LEARN FROM ME FOR I AM MEEK in https://catholicsstrivingforholiness.org/14th-sunday-in-ordinary-time-year-a-reflection-learn-from-me-for-i-am-meek-mt-1125-30/
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