July 3: Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Scripture readings: 

• Zechariah 9:9-10
• Psalm 145:1-2, 8-14
• Romans 8:9, 11-13
• Matthew 11:25-30

Synopsis:  
The ministry of the prophet Zechariah coincided with the return of the Jews from Babylon around 538 B.C.  His main concern was the rebuilding of the Temple and the restoration of worship so that the covenant with God could be renewed.“Zechariah” means “The Lord remembers,” suggesting that despite their sin God will never forget, nor forsake his people.

The first reading, normally associated with Palm Sunday, was chosen to complement the Gospel, which emphasizes Christ’s humility and his solidarity with the poor and the oppressed.

In the second reading Paul explains that those who have been “raised with Christ” in baptism, must necessarily be one with him in Spirit:  “Whoever does not have the Spirit of Christ,” he says, “does not belong to him.”  One of Christ’s most distinctive traits was his humility. Pride made Adam fall. But when Christ humbled himself by becoming man, he restored man’s dignity and raised him up to heaven. 

Matthew 11 is an important turning point in the narrative as it describes a crucial transition in Jesus’ ministry. It begins with John the Baptist who’s in prison and ends with this week’s Gospel reading where Jesus says “Come to me.”  John’s work is over. He has prepared the way for Christ. His disciples must now follow Christ in the way of humility, innocence and the simplicity of children.

Key verse:
“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart” (Mt 11:29).

Catechism of the Catholic Church:
“The kingdom belongs to the poor and lowly, which means those who have accepted it with humble hearts. Jesus is sent to ‘preach good news to the poor’; he declares them blessed, for ‘theirs is the kingdom of heaven.’ To them—the ‘little ones’—the Father is pleased to reveal what remains hidden from the wise and the learned” (No. 544).

James Cavanagh is director of Evangelization and Catechesis for Metro-area Parishes of the Denver Archdiocese. Cavanagh’s column is distributed by the Denver Catholic Register.