THE SPIRIT OF JESUS

 Sunday, July 9, 2023


FOURTEENTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR A


First Reading. Zechariah9: 9-10

Psalm.145: 1-2, 8-11, 13-14 (R. see 1)

Second Reading. Roman 8: 9, 11-13

Gospel. Matthew 11: 25-30


TOPIC FOR REFLECTION


LIVING IN THE SPIRIT OF GOD


Jesus in today's Gospel prayed thus: “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will all things have been delivered to me by my father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 


The questions are, 

Do you know Jesus? I know you will say yes, "I know Jesus". 

But, what knowledge of Jesus do you have?

Do you know Him as God or as who?

These are the fundamental questions we need to ask one another.


Many of us Christians only know Jesus by name and by His miraculous deeds, but not in His ways of life.


The problem is that we feel we are self-sufficient and do not need to learn the way of God. Hence, we feel it is not necessary to imitate Jesus.


This is more reason Jesus gave thanks to God who allowed the lowly and humble of heart to receive the revelation of God, while the proud and self-sufficient remain in their ignorance.


Still, Jesus out of His compassionate love and mercy, cried out in a loud voice saying, "Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”


My dear, Jesus is calling on you and me to cast all our difficulties on Him, let us humble ourselves to learn how to live a good life in Jesus. The invitation is to build our faith and trust in God, but do we value His invitation?


But, the moment we humble ourselves to imitate Jesus' way of life, His Spirit will begin to dwell in us and we will no longer live in the flesh. 


Quoting the second reading, St. Paul said: Brethren: you are not in the flesh, you are in the spirit if the spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit who dwells in you. So then, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh – for if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body you will live.


In conclusion, the first reading made it clear that our king has come to reign on earth, so we should rejoice and be glad. However, His reign on earth will not be accomplished if we are not in His Spirit. That is, we should be in the Spirit of God and allow Him to first and foremost reign in our lives, then through us, He can reign in the world. 


Peace ✌️ be with you 


Rev. Fr. Segun Oladeji, CRS.

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