HOMILY FOR THE 14TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR A. (2)

HOMILY FOR THE 14TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR A.

THEME: “For My Yoke Is Easy, and My Burden Light.”

BY: Fr. Anthony O. EZEAPUTA, MA.

Our gospel reading (Matthew 11:25–30) is set during the ministry of Jesus Christ in the towns surrounding the Sea of Galilee. Despite his preaching, healing, and many other works, they rejected him. As a result, Jesus denounces them. Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? (Matthew 11:21–24).

It is against the backdrop of the denunciation of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum that Jesus exclaimed in today’s gospel, “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” (Matthew 11:25). But who does Jesus refer to as “the wise and learned,” and who are “the little ones”?

The scribes and Pharisees represent “the wise and learned,” while “the little ones” (nēpios in Greek) are those who accepted Jesus, otherwise known as “the righteous.” “The wise and learned” opposed Jesus because they thought they knew better based on their knowledge of Scripture and their own traditions.

However, “the little ones,” that is, the poor and illiterate, sinners, tax collectors, and regular people who had never had the opportunity to thoroughly study the scriptures, accepted Jesus.

A politician sought wisdom from an experienced monk. He began discussing his personal and political accomplishments with the monk. While the politician boasted about his triumph, the monk filled a cup with tea. After filling the cup, the monk kept pouring tea into it. “Stop pouring,” the politician said, moving away from the overflowing cup. No more tea fits in the cup.” The monk said, “Like this cup, you are overflowing with your own opinions and achievements.” If you don’t empty your cup, how can I teach you?”

So, in Matthew 11:25, Jesus warns us not to be like “the wise and learned” or the towns of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum, which rejected him. He wants us to be empty of our egos, self-centeredness, and religious elitism so that he can fill us with his love. He just wants us to accept God by following him, receiving his teaching, pondering it in our hearts, and putting it into practice in our lives.

Jesus then says, “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” (Matthew 11:27). Here, Jesus reminds us that he is the only one who can lead us to the kingdom of God.

Sadly, not only are the so-called “wise and learned” like an overflowing cup, but they have also usurped religion, the means to the Kingdom of God, and burdened it with inhuman and unreasonable regulations. Therefore, Jesus makes this promise: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28), which is also a reference to Moses in the wilderness.

While Moses was burdened with the task of leading the Israelites from Egypt through the wilderness to the Promised Land, he cried out to the Lord, saying, “If indeed I enjoy your favor, please show me your ways, so that I may understand you and continue to enjoy your favor. Consider, too, that this nation is your people.” And the Lord responds, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest” (Exodus 33:13–14).

So, in Matthew 11:28, Jesus is saying that he is the divine presence among us and that he is the one who gives us rest. But what does Jesus mean by “rest”?

The Greek word for “rest” is “anapausis.” It evokes the image of an “oasis”—water in the desert—where people traveling through the desert can stop and cool off. It also calls to mind the Sabbath, which is a day to rest and spend time with God (Genesis 2:2-3).

So, when Jesus says, “I will give you rest,” he is referring to himself as the one who quenches our thirst and gives us the eternal Sabbath with God. He is saying that he is the one who takes away our burdens and sorrows.

Jesus then says, “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” (Matthew 11:29). There are three aspects to these words of Jesus.

Firstly, Jesus’ yoke is easier or lighter because he bears more of the load with the burdened. In contrast to religious teachers who sought positions of honor and prestige, Jesus has come not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

Secondly, Jesus’ gracious word about “rest for yourselves” sounds a lot like what Jeremiah says. “Take it, and you will find rest for yourselves” (6:16). It is an offer of divine grace, but refusal of the offer leads to disaster. And, sadly, people will also reject this gracious invitation from Jesus.

Finally, Jesus describes his yoke as “easy” (Chrēstos in Greek). “For my yoke is easy” (Matthew 11:30). In the context of today’s gospel, the word “Chrēstos” means “well-fitting” or “fit for purpose.” After all, yokes were custom-made to fit each of the two animals that would be yoked together.

If we take up the idea that each yoke is fashioned individually for each animal, it says something important, by way of analogy, about the call to discipleship. The yoke for each of us is different; the way of discipleship, the Lord’s yoke, is different for each of us.

Archbishop Rowan Williams once said, “At the Day of Judgment, as we are often reminded, the question will not be about why we failed to be someone else; I shall not be asked why I wasn’t Martin Luther King or Mother Teresa, but why I wasn’t Rowan Williams.”

Each of us will be asked at the end of our lives how we used our “yoke” to serve God and humanity. Perhaps your yoke is marriage, single life, parents, grandparents, priests, catechists, etc.; through it, seek to be the best version of a disciple of Jesus through Christ our Lord. Amen!

Fr. Anthony O. EZEAPUTA, MA.
Homily for the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)
July 9, 2023

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