Cycle A - Year II:  

6 July 2014: 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time 

(Liturgical color: Green)

Matthew 11:25-30

The Lord is our helping hand!

The liturgy brings us back to Ordinary Time after a series of solemnities or special feasts. Today is the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time.

In the Church's calendar, Ordinary Time is the yearly cycle of 33, or 34, weeks in which no particular aspect of the mystery of Christ is celebrated. Rather, the mystery of Christ itself is honored in its fullness, especially on Sundays. The liturgical color of the priest's vestments and the altar cloth is green.

The Lord speaks to us this week through the Gospel written by Saint Matthew. I invite

you to reflect on the concluding paragraph of today's Gospel. We are encouraged by Christ himself:

"Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. 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." (Mt 11:28-30)

In our journey through life, we are faced with challenges, suffering and trials that at times it seems tempting to just give up. And some actually do give up.

The media overwhelms us with even more depressing news, like corruption in government, criminality, high prices of basic commodities, catastrophic natural calamities, and even wars in some parts of the world.

Christians are not spared from these challenges and trials, from pains and discomfort they suffer in their attempt to be faithful to Christ's teaching. It's like we keep falling into the same temptations over and over again. In other words, it is hard and difficult to live Christian life in today's world.

Therefore, we ask, where is Christ in the world fraught with war and violence, in our family, or sectors of our family, torn by disagreement and anger?

But in reality, it is us who find countless reasons to avoid Christ. It is us who deliberately take Christ out of our lives because we do not want to follow his path because of the difficult demands of discipleship.

The Good News is that Jesus insists that we come to him when our hearts are burdened.  Jesus offers us a way out in today's Gospel: Come to me all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. (Mt 11:28)

For the human heart remains restless amid all satisfactions that this world offers. Because true peace and happiness is found in Jesus alone, when we live in Him, and for Him.

A blessed Sunday to us all. And thank you for a moment with God.

Ad Jesum per Mariam!