Matthew 11:25-30

Zechariah 9:9-10

Psalm 145:1-2, 8-9, 10-11, 13-14

Romans 8:9, 11-13

Matthew 11:25-30

At that time Jesus exclaimed: 

“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.

Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will.

All things have been handed over to me by my Father. 

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.”

“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,

and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,

for I am meek and humble of heart;

and you will find rest for yourselves. 

For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”

Opening Prayer: Lord God, we praise you, for you reveal the mysteries of your Kingdom to the humble and faithful of heart. Teach us to trust in your gentle rule, rejoice in your saving presence, and walk by your Spirit. Free us from the works of the flesh, that we may live as your children and proclaim your everlasting goodness.

Encountering the Word of God

1. Entrusting the Kingdom to Jesus: In the Gospel of Matthew, we are reading from the “Third Book” (Matthew 11-13), which concerns the mystery of the Kingdom. We are reading from the narrative section that builds up to the parables about the Kingdom (Matthew 13). Jesus, today, praises his Father and acknowledges that the Father has entrusted all things to him. With this phrase, “Jesus is claiming to be the heir of the universal kingdom of David and the universal kingdom of God. The two are ultimately one and the same. Just as David handed all things over to Solomon, who then rode into Jerusalem on a donkey to claim the throne; so God has handed all things over to Jesus (Ephesians 1:22), who is also the Son of David” (Bergsma, The Word of the Lord: Year A, 308). In his prayer to his Father, Jesus is alluding to the history of the Kingdom of David and especially the transition from King Solomon to his son, Rehoboam. When the people came to Rehoboam and asked him to lighten their burden, their taxes, and their forced labor, Rehoboam refused and only increased it. This led to the northern tribes separating from the two southern tribes. “In these verses of Matthew, Jesus the Son of David contrasts himself with some of the corrupt and abusive sons of David who preceded him, whose selfishness led to the breaking apart of God’s people. Jesus comes as the healer and consoler, the one to reunite “Ephraim” the north and “Jerusalem “the south” (Bergsma, The Word of the Lord: Year A, 309). 

2. A Meek and Humble Bridegroom-King: The painful division between the northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah is alluded to in the First Reading, from Zechariah. Zechariah prophesies that when the savior-king comes, riding on a donkey or colt, “He shall banish the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem.” Ephraim refers to northern Israel, and Jerusalem refers to southern Judah. The king, who rides upon a humble animal, and not a warhorse, will bring peace: “the warrior’s bow shall be banished, and he shall proclaim peace to the nations.” The king will be a universal king: “His dominion shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth.” Literally, the two seas are the Dead Sea (in the East) and the Mediterranean Sea (in the west). The River is the Euphrates (in the north), and the “ends of the earth” is the Arabian Peninsula (in the south). These coordinates correspond to the extent of the Kingdom of Solomon. But they are also poetic descriptions of the entire world. Today, we see the ongoing fulfillment of Zechariah’s prophecy: the Kingdom of God continues to extend throughout the world in the Catholic Church. Our Bridegroom-King has come in humility and will return in glory. He has brought peace and will, one day, bring definitive and everlasting peace. 

3. The Spirit of Christ Lives in Us: We continue to read Paul’s Letter to the Romans every Sunday. We are in Chapter Eight, and this is the theological heart of the letter. Paul has expounded the problem of sin and how Jesus is the New Adam. He has proposed that we are not saved by following the works of the Old Law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. He is not detailing the consequences of this new life in Christ. One consequence is that we are now “in the spirit.” The Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ, dwells within us. Just as the Spirit raised Jesus from the dead, so also the Spirit will give life to our bodies. We should not live according to the flesh, which is a path toward eternal death, but according to the Spirit, which is a path toward eternal life.

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, meek and humble King, you come bringing peace to the nations and rest to the weary. Draw us to yourself when our burdens seem heavy, and teach us to take up your yoke with love. May your Spirit give us strength to follow you faithfully and find true refreshment in your Sacred Heart.

Living the Word of God: Do I truly entrust the important areas of my life – my family, work, health, finances, and future – to the kingship of Christ, or do I try to carry these burdens alone? In my interactions with others, do I seek to dominate, control, or win, or do I imitate the humility and gentleness of Christ? Is there a relationship in my family, parish, workplace, or community that I can help heal through forgiveness, patience, or a sincere act of reconciliation? How can I participate more intentionally in the mission of Christ and his Church through prayer, witness, service, or support of evangelization?