7.5.20 - Wisdom hidden from the Elite, Jesus reveals God, The Yoke of Jesus is easy!

14th Sunday in Ordinary Time: Matthew 11:25-30 Romans 8:9,11-13 Zechariah 9:9-10

Context/setting of Gospel reading: Jesus has been all over the countryside in Galilee, the Sea of Galilee, and Pernea. The people from some towns rejected, or were not interested in, who he was or what his message was, and just wanted to see more miracles and signs. We’ve talked about who Jesus was – the erlternal Logos and Son of God. How incredible it would be in the history of the universe for him to come here to save the human race and find the people only interested in the things you can do but not saving their lives eternally. It must have frustrating for Jesus, knowing how pride came before the fall with the angels and man already once, to watch it playing out yet again.

Matthew 11:25-301)

At that time Jesus said in reply, “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 the childlike. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. 2) 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.3) “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.”

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1) Jesus teaches that putting God first in life is not about rituals and self-reward for following rules, but about faith and self-giving. The most educated and successful were rejecting Jesus, addicted to their positions and success. Self-pride makes is spiritually blinding.

Jesus speaks highly of being childlike only because children they haven’t filled themselves with worldly success and knowledge yet; unlike adults, they are trusting, wide open to learning, and open to wonder.

Faith is needed for the Spirit to act in us, which then enables the mind to see and accept God and what He is offering us. The lack of faith is why the elite and proud cannot see.

2) 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.

This is a confounding statement. As a lifelong Jew, Jesus obviously knew that the Jews knew who God was. However, this historical relationship was symbolic whereas his was quite literal. Moreover – recall our discussions about agnostics – the only way humans can know the truth about God is if God chooses to reveal Himself to humans. Not only is this true for the human race in general, but now Jesus is saying it has further application as to who in the human race it will be revealed to.

Let’s recap three points:

First, Jesus’ message is that he is the Revelation of the Father. Second, only he and the Father know this and can reveal it to us. Third, only those with faith and who are humble of heart can receive the revelation. The rest are “self-blocked” with… self!

3) Give me your burdens and I will give you rest… I am meek and humble of heart… My yoke is easy.

Q: Jesus promises “rest.” Where have we heard this before?

A: The Sabbath, yes; but, the origin of that is the 7th day of creation, the Day of the Lord. We were created with the world in the 6th day and invited to walk into the 7th day. By giving us a spirit, we already have one foot in the 7th day. Although we deserted paradise, Jesus has cleared the way for us to return.

Q: Who else was called meek?

A: Only one – Moses. Jesus is the new Moses, right? This time our Exodus is from slavery to sin to the 7th day. Being meek and humble of heart is the opposite of being worldly or too full of yourself, which blocks the 7th day. As with everything else Jesus did, he is providing us an example. The logic is, if God can come here and be meek and humble of heart, surely we can.

Q: What is meant by his yoke comments?

A: A yoke is the wooden harness farmers placed around the shoulders of oxen to pull their plow to prepare the ground for a new season of planting. This made digging the land each season much faster and less burdensome than doing it by hand. A yoke in those days typically accommodated two oxen.What Jesus means by this is that the pathway to heaven is not always easy but he will share the yoke with us, which mean he and us are yoked together. The assurance that comes with this is a) we are heaven bound, and b) we are assured of getting there.

I hope everyone had a happy Fourth. See you Monday!

Ron