Dress to God's Word / "Liturgical Dress": 14th Sun., Ordinary Time

Angelus: Jesus invites everyone who feels who feels weary or burdened, “Come to me, and I will give you rest.” Jesus knows life can be hard, and many things can weary us. In the face of it all, his first word is “Come.” When things are going badly, don't stay where you are, natural as it might be to turn in on yourself, brooding on life's injustices, others' ingratitude, and the world's wickedness. Jesus wants to pull us out of this quicksand, and the way out is reaching out and looking to the One who truly loves us.

But going out of ourselves is only the first step; we must know where to go. Many goals can be deceptive, promising us rest and distracting us for a while, but ultimately leaving us alone as before. This is why Jesus says, “Come to me.” Never forget to turn to Jesus, to open yourself to him, and entrust your difficulties to him. The Lord waits for us to help us, but that doesn't mean he'll magically take away our difficulties. He doesn't take the Cross from us; he carries it with us. When we come to him, we receive a peace that remains in difficulties. The Lord promises, “Learn from me… and you'll find rest.” Go to Jesus! When we seek respite from things that weary the body, let's not forget to find true rest in the Lord.”

Bonus: His Friday homily wasn't available when I posted, but it is now; check it out.

Read

Zec 9:9-10 Rejoice heartily and shout for joy! Your king shall come, a just savior, meek, and riding on a colt. He shall banish chariot, horse, and bow, proclaim peace, and rule from sea to sea.

Ps 145:1-2, 8-11, 13-14 "I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God." The Lord is gracious, merciful, kind, slow to anger, faithful, holy, and good to all, raising all who are bowed down. Let your works and faithful ones thank and bless you.

Rom 8:9, 11-13 You're in the spirit, not the flesh, if God's Spirit dwells in you. If the Spirit dwells in you, the one who raised Christ from the dead will give you life through that Spirit. You don't have to live according to the flesh and die; if you put to death the deeds of the body, you'll live.

Mt 11:25-30 “I praise you, Father and Lord, for, as you willed, you've revealed to little ones things hidden from the learned. No one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him. “Come to me, you who labor and are burdened, and I'll give you rest. Take my yoke and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest, for my yoke is easy and burden light.”

Reflect

Creighton: Today’s Gospel, “Come to me, all you who are weary,... and I will give you rest” is a powerful reminder how God wants my burdens, anxieties, and troubles. When I hand them over, it's better then when I try to handle them myself; it also affects all who interact with me. I'm more engaged, kind, forgiving, and joyful. Pray Holley Gerth's prayer for hope....

One Bread, One Body: "Seek meekness": Zechariah prophesied the Messiah would enter Jerusalem "meek, and riding on a colt." Jesus invites us, "Learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart." "Blessed are the meek; they shall inherit the earth." Greek πραΰς (meek) is also translated gentle, lowly, and mild. Meekness is strength, not weakness; the meek are so strong, they overcome temptations to be manipulative, controlling, or defensive. The meek try to get us to do God's will, not theirs. The Lord reveals himself to the meek and gives them the land and rest. Despite the greatness and grace of meekness, we want to be arrogant. Meekness is a fruit of the Spirit; may we allow the Spirit to meek-en us.

Come to me...

Passionist: "The Father's love is revealed to the merest child": Jesus is Wisdom, Way, Truth, and Life, Son of the Father, gentle, and humble of heart; he refreshes us when we're burdened. Little ones are often overlooked, but we owe them respect for what they offer us. Many are malnourished; many die in domestic violence or are caught in gang fights or trafficking. We watch and pray for change, and God hears the cry of suffering and helps. May we care for children and support parents and all who work and care for children; we need what they offer us. In them we see a way of knowing Jesus, who shows us the Father who looks upon and loves us and sees in us what he sees and loves in his Son.

DailyScripture.net: "Learn from me and find rest for your soul": Jesus thanks the Father for revealing God's wisdom to his followers. God is Father, Lord, Creator, and Author of all with authority over and love for all. Jesus' prayer contrasts the world's wisdom with true wisdom and implicitly warns us pride can keep us from God. Pride, a cold heart, and stubbornness shut God out. Pride cools the heart, closes the mind, and propels us to sin. Pride is inordinate self-love at the expense of others and exaggerated estimation of one's knowledge, power, importance, and position.

The simple of heart are childlike; they see purely and simply and recognize their dependence on others and are willing to be taught and formed. Simplicity is linked with humility. The humble are free to focus on others' welfare, as Jesus did, who came "to serve and to give his life... for the many." Jesus' "gentleness" is "strength under control" at the service of good. Out of love he humbled himself to raise us to glory with him, to heal, pardon, and restore us; he shows us the true path of love, victory, freedom, and joy. Humility frees us to pursue what's good. God gives grace to the humble. Only the humble can receive God's wisdom. Our greatest reward is union with God. Jesus claims to be the perfect revelation of God, united with the Father since before creation. As Christians, we believe we can know God personally; Jesus makes it possible for each of us to have a personal relationship and experience of God as our loving Father. To see Jesus is to recognize and know God and his love for us created in his image. God loved us even while we were lost, and sent his Son, his image, who gave up his life for us. Only our pride can separate us from him.

Jews used the yoke image to express submission to God. Jesus used the analogy of a yoke to explain how we can exchange the burden of sin for glory and freedom; he says his yoke is 'easy.' The Greek (χρηστoς) can also mean 'well-fitting'; yokes were made to fit the oxen well. We're commanded to put on Jesus' yoke; no burden is too heavy when given and carried in love. Jesus offers us a kingdom of justice, peace, and joy; the yoke of his kingdom liberates us....

Sunday-trumped saints, from Universalis

St. Augustine Zhao Rong, priest and martyr, and 119 companions, martyrs

19 Gorcum Martyrs

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Dress to God's Word / "Liturgical Dress"

July 9, 2017

14th Sun., Ordinary Time

July 9, 2017: Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

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