14th Sunday of Ordinary Time Year A - Hearts Burning Within

The Lectionary and Scripture Interpretation for Ordinary Time

Zechariah 9:9-10

Zechariah is called a “minor prophet,” not because his message was minor or secondary but because there is far less material from him than from the major prophets such as Isaiah or Jeremiah.

The genre of Zechariah is mostly apocalyptic. One feature of this type of literature is looking back over the past but writing from the perspective that one is predicting the future. You don’t see that quite so much in Zechariah but you do see other elements of this genre: lots of fantastical imagery and symbolism.

The book ends with a vision of a future time in which conflict will end with victory on the side of those who are faithful to God.

In his historical context, the prophet Zechariah was challenging the post-exilic community to rebuild the temple. Jerusalem fell in 587BC and the temple was completely destroyed shortly thereafter. About 50 years later the the first Jews begin to return to the land from their exile in Babylon

The Book of Ezra (a historical book) tells us that the people were so preoccupied with rebuilding the land that they didn’t have time for God or the temple. Survival was so tough that they couldn’t see beyond it most days. But Ezra tells us they finally did get around to it by 515 BC – it took them almost 25 years after they returned, 75 years after the destruction of the temple.

The prophet Haggai – which is the book right before Zechariah – was a contemporary and on the same mission. Probably Malachi was also a contemporary.

The verses from today’s passage paint an image of the ideal Jewish king, who later came to be known as the Messiah. At this time, remember that the people have been utterly conquered. They no longer rule themselves. They firmly believed that the Messiah would be the one to liberate them from that rule.

But this passage today tells us that the Messiah is not what we expect. He does not come conquering and obliterating his enemy. Rather he comes with peaceful intent, humble, meek, bringing rest.

One thing in particular these verses contrast is the donkey and the horse. A person riding a donkey signaled peaceful intent. The horse symbolizes war. The ideal king depicted here comes riding on an symbol of peace and then banishes the symbols of war.

This reading really calls to mind the triumphal entry which comes much later in the gospel story. It feels almost out of place here in July in Ordinary Time. We are reminded that we’re living out our Christian calling in a kingdom that is ruled by Christ who is the Prince of Peace.

How has Jesus brought peace into your life?

Matthew 11:25-30

During Ordinary Time, I’ll cover the Old Testament and then the Gospel readings as a pair so that we can better see the connections.

This is the only reading we have from chapters 11 and 12 which are a narrative section “rejection by this generation.” This parallels chps 14-17 which will be “acknowledgement by the disciples.”

11:1 closes out the missionary discourse of chp 10
11:2-19 is about John the Baptist which we read for Advent last year
11:20-24 is a reproach of anyone who had the benefit of hearing John the Baptist’s message but did not respond

In the midst of all this rejection we have this passage about the type of person who might accept the message – the childlike, those to whom the Son wishes to reveal God. These are the ones who are called to his yoke. Jesus is the one who brings peace, the King of Peace, even in the midst of rejection.

V25-26 thanksgiving for God’s revelation
V 27 – the content of the revelation
V 28-30 invitation to revelation (unique to Matthew)

This passage has a lot in common with Sirach 51. That book is wisdom literature – how to live the good life.

Verses 25-27 sounds a lot like some of the Johanine prayers. It was probably something already in use in the liturgy and then later expanded on by the author of the gospel of John.

Verse 25 “I praise you Father” was a typical Jewish blessing formula.

Verse 25 also mentions the “wise and learned.” The rest of chapters 11 and 12 are going to show how the Pharisees – those are supposedly wise and learned – reject Jesus.

Jesus praises the childlike: the little children, simple, immature, unlearned, unenlightened. Paul uses this word a lot. This is not to say that children can’t be wise; sometimes children are way more perceptive than adults. The use of this word is in direct contrast to the Pharisees. He is referring to all who do accept and follow him: his disciples.

Verse 29 mentions the “yoke.” Figuratively, the yoke usually represents slavery or submission. It is something that controls. But it can also be a positive image of discipline and direction. Jesus teaches and demonstrates a way of life, a yoke, markedly different than that of the religious leaders of his time. In comparison with the commands of the Pharisees, Jesus’ teaching is much easier to digest and understand because it is more direct and centered on the essential. It’s also much more difficult because what is asked is beyond our natural abilities. The Pharisees’ commands could be accomplished theoretically through detailed observance but it consumed a person. Jesus’ can only be done through the power of the Spirit.

Chapter 12 is going to continue the theme of rejection and that chapter focuses specifically on the rejection by Jesus’ nemesis, the Pharisees. And interestingly enough, a lot of the stories in chapter 12 are going to be about things that happen on the Sabbath and concern what the Pharisaic idea of rest is.

What burdens do you need to bring to Jesus today?

What does Jesus’ yoke look like for your life? How does it bring rest?

Jesus says his yoke is “easy” and “light.” What areas of life seem hard and heavy right now and how might that indicate that you are not carrying Jesus’ yoke?

Old Testament / Gospel Connection

How are the Old Testament and Gospel readings connected? Each week I will offer my views on this but I encourage you to first read the passages and look for your own connections!

Zechariah paints a different picture than what the people expected. They expected liberation through human strength and military prowess. Zechariah says true peace is achieved through humility and submission to God’s plans and purposes. Jesus comes centuries later echoing the same message: trying to do it ourselves through our own strength is not the way into the kingdom.

Romans 8:9, 11-13

See detailed background on Romans here.

Romans 8 is a pivotal chapter in many ways and today is the first of five readings from this one chapter. I encourage you to spend time reading and re-reading the chapter as a whole to get a sense of the overall messages.

Chapters 1-8 say that God has already acted faithfully to include Gentiles in the community of salvation. Chapters 1-4 are addressed to a Jewish audience while 5-8 speak to a Gentile audience. Bringing the Gentiles in was always part of God’s plan. Paul is always sounding that reminder – this isn’t something new and out of the blue. The hints of it are all over the Old Testament if we look.

Chapters 5-7 were a reflection on the evil in the world and the fact that Christ has conquered all that. Chp 8 brings a shift in tone: we can now rejoice because we live in the spirit! 8:1-13 should be read in negative contrast against 7:7-25. 8:2 uses three key words: “law, sin, death.” If you wanted to sum up the discussion of chapters 5-7, it would be these 3 words. Chapter 8 is a celebration: the tyranny of law, sin, and death is broken!

We could summarize today’s passage by saying: Through Christ’s work, the paschal mystery, there are two responses – live according to the flesh or according to the spirit.

Living according to the flesh in Paul’s view means choosing to sin. As baptized believers, we live in the spirit with the freedom that brings: we can choose not to sin. For Paul, flesh is anything and everything that inclines us to sin. I think it’s important to remember here other places were Paul acknowledges the reality that we will and do sin. Frequently. Paul is painting one side of the picture in this passage, a view that is starkly contrasting black and white, right and wrong. But we know life is rarely ever black and white!

Verses 5-8 talk about the life of the flesh and conclude by saying that we cannot please God living this way. Verses 9-11 contrast that with the life of the spirit.

Verse 9 says “if only the Spirit of God dwells in you.” The Greek grammar implies that this is a fact: the spirit of God is indeed dwelling in you!

Verse 12 begins with “consequently.” This phrase is found throughout Romans and always indicates a turning point, important conclusion, and summary (see also 1:13, 7:1,4, 10:1, 11:25, 12:1, 15:14, 16:17).

Verse 13 says we live in the spirit but there is also the reality of Evil forces in the world that can work against life in the spirit. So even though the Spirit enables us to live the life God desires, it’s still an active work on our part to do that, to claim it as our reality. There is a connection to the gospel here as well: we do this work by taking on Jesus’ yoke and submitting to him.

In what ways do you experience the Spirit of God dwelling in you?

Questions to ponder

What do these readings say about how to live day in and day out as Christians?