Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year 1 2023

Title

Fighting God’s Battles

Outline

We know how to fight battles in the world

One amasses a more powerful army, or perhaps a secret yet powerful weapon

One gathers economic power so as to obtain political power and influence the levers of government - we see that in Christian allied movements such as the pro-life movement as well as in secular movements

One gets the backing of honorable and powerful persons

At root power and force is the name of the game

How different is God’s way

His king comes to be crowed without using force

No war chariot, no charger, but he is still “your king [is] coming to you, a just savior is he”

Like Simon Maccabeus, the first Hasmonean King (143 BC), he comes to be crowed on a donkey, to receive voluntary fealty, in Simon’s case the battles had been fought earlier.

But this king will abolish armies, “proclaim peace to the nations,” and “his dominion will be from sea to sea.” He does not need an army to preserve his country against the nations, but rather will peacefully bring the nations into his dominion.

And that is how the Church advances, through announcing good news and inviting people to enter the kingdom and find peace.

This is nonsense to those not of the Spirit

Yet because the Spirit lives in us we know that “if you live according to the flesh, you will die” - if you live using the power dynamics of the world, among other things.

And because the Spirit lives in us we know that death holds no fear for us, for “the one who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also, through his Spirit that dwells in you.”

So in fact if we have the power of this age we often lay it down, “if by the spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” How many of the saints did just that, leaving honorable positions, powerful houses (including the military), and wealth for the simplicity of living by the Spirit.

All of this means that when we realize this we have gotten to the root of reality

We have become children, those who have no status, who know they do not know, and therefore are open to revelation and are under the authority of the parent (i.e. God).

And because we know we do not know, we hear “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.” as good news, for we know that the Son reveals himself and the Father to children, those in the family.

And this means that we can give up the power struggles of this age and rest in God’s humility, knowing that he has all power and has already triumphed and all we need do is to do what he tells us, “take his yoke upon us.” “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.” Rest is in laying down the striving, trusting the Father, and like children doing what Father and older brother tell us, doing it in simple trust.

Readings

Catholic Daily Readings 7-9-2023: Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

FIRST READING

Zechariah 9:9–10

9 Exult greatly, O daughter Zion!

Shout for joy, O daughter Jerusalem!

Behold: your king is coming to you,

a just savior is he,

Humble, and riding on a donkey,

on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

10 He shall banish the chariot from Ephraim,

and the horse from Jerusalem;

The warrior’s bow will be banished,

and he will proclaim peace to the nations.

His dominion will be from sea to sea,

and from the River to the ends of the earth.

Catholic Daily Readings 7-9-2023: Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

RESPONSE

Psalm 145:1

1 Praise. Of David.

I will extol you, my God and king;

I will bless your name forever and ever.

PSALM

Psalm 145:1–2, 8–11, 13–14

1 Praise. Of David.

I will extol you, my God and king;

I will bless your name forever and ever.

2 Every day I will bless you;

I will praise your name forever and ever.

8 The LORD is gracious and merciful,

slow to anger and abounding in mercy.

9 The LORD is good to all,

compassionate toward all your works.

10 All your works give you thanks, LORD

and your faithful bless you.

11 They speak of the glory of your reign

and tell of your mighty works,

13 Your reign is a reign for all ages,

your dominion for all generations.

The LORD is trustworthy in all his words,

and loving in all his works.

14 The LORD supports all who are falling

and raises up all who are bowed down.

Catholic Daily Readings 7-9-2023: Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

SECOND READING

Romans 8:9, 11–13

9 But you are not in the flesh; on the contrary, you are in the spirit, if only the Spirit of God dwells in you. Whoever does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.

11 If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, the one who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also, through his Spirit that dwells in you. 12 Consequently, brothers, we are not debtors to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 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.

Catholic Daily Readings 7-9-2023: Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Matthew 11:25

25 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.

GOSPEL

Matthew 11:25–30

25 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. 26 Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. 27 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.

28 “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. 29  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”

Notes

Catholic Daily Readings 7-9-2023: Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

SUNDAY, JULY 9, 2023 | ORDINARY TIME

FOURTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

YEAR A | ROMAN MISSAL | LECTIONARY

First Reading Zechariah 9:9–10

Response Psalm 145:1

Psalm Psalm 145:1–2, 8–11, 13–14

Second Reading Romans 8:9, 11–13

Gospel Acclamation Matthew 11:25

Gospel Matthew 11:25–30

GREEN