![]() ![]() They do not have access to the divine revelation and thus they are left in ignorance, manifested through their rejection. The so called wise and learned have rejected Jesus as the Son of God, cutting them off from the divine message and hold on to what they claim to be the best. So much is this case and practical situation that the only way to know the Father is to know the Son. Jesus continues to explain in his teaching that he and God share an intimate relationship based on mutual knowledge. They were just simple ordinary persons whom Jesus had chosen. ![]() The child-like or the infants are references to the disciples of Jesus who by most standards had no claim to fame. In this case the wise and learned are probably the Scribes and Pharisees who were acclaimed to be experts in the law and its application. Thus in this passage Jesus begins by praising God for the revelation that has been hidden from the so called wise and learned but revealed it all to the child-like or simple persons. In this passage Matthew emphasizes the observation of Jesus that the humble persons are truly God’s kind of people. ![]() When we think spiritually, we are no longer burdened by the worldly ways because we are walking our living faith and hope with a spiritual heart. When we live our Christian life as a new creation, enjoying the gifts that we have received during the Sacrament of Baptism, we think spiritually. In the Gospel of today Jesus says that His yoke is easy and His burden is light. He tells us that we owe nothing to the flesh. Paul reminds us that while in this world we are still in a struggle against sin. Because of this and our continuing union with the Trinity, Paul can say that we live in the Spirit that is we live with our hearts open to God. Baptism brought the Spirit of God and of Christ into our lives. They are full of promise, life and growth. Those who live according to the Spirit give themselves to Jesus. Those who live according to the flesh give themselves to human logic and power alone. At the center of the flesh principle are such things as pride, arrogance and ambition. Flesh in this context refers to a life turned on it, an egoistic life. Paul in his letter to the Romans reminds us of the choice between two possible principles by which we can live: one is to live by the flesh and the other to live by the Spirit. He is a king of peace, not just in the sense of an external absence of violence but of a deep, inner peace, shalom. This is confirmed later in the words: “He will banish war chariots from Ephraim and war horses from Jerusalem the bow of war will be banished.” He will proclaim peace for the nations. The people can now devote themselves to planting and harvesting. The scene is one of humility but also of peace indicating that peace is returned and the nation is free from the ravages of war. God always takes the initiative in the divine-human relationship. He is coming riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. He evokes God’s protective care as he promises the coming of our King into Jerusalem, truly humble. In the First Reading from the Book of Zechariah the prophet invites the Israelites for a sincere service to God. At the same time he says that his yoke is easy and his burden is light and hence we must come to him in order to receive rest from him. Jesus thanks the Father for granting the disciples the grace to grasp his teaching while keeping its meaning hidden from the so-called wise and intelligent people of the day. That dominion is expressed in today’s Gospel when Jesus says, “All things have been handed over to me by my Father.” He reveals the Father to us, and so we are swept up, in the Holy Spirit, into the intimacy between Father and Son, as we ourselves become his sons and daughters in Jesus Christ. He has dominion is from sea to sea, and yet he is concerned personally of each one of us. He is the new king whose arrival brings peace to the weary people. He is our King, says Prophet Zechariah in the first reading, yet comes meekly riding on a placid donkey rather than on a prancing war horse. He is the God who is our creator and all surpassing, yet approaches us on intimate personal terms. This word reveals to us and shows us that God is all powerful and mighty and yet is always accessible. The readings of today invite us to reflect on peace and consolation through the Word of God.
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