Daily Readings - Sun Jul 09 2017

Second Reading - Romans 8.9, 11-13

⁹And you are not in the flesh, but in the spirit, if it is true that the Spirit of God lives within you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to him¹¹But if the Spirit of him who raised up Jesus from the dead lives within you, then he who raised up Jesus Christ from the dead shall also enliven your mortal bodies, by means of his Spirit living within you¹²Therefore, brothers, we are not debtors to the flesh, so as to live according to the flesh¹³For if you live according to the flesh, you will die. But if, by the Spirit, you mortify the deeds of the flesh, you shall live

Gospel - Matthew 11.25-30

Matthew

Chapter 11

²⁵At that time, Jesus responded and said: "I acknowledge you, Father, Lord of Heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the prudent, and have revealed them to little ones²⁶Yes, Father, for this was pleasing before you²⁷All things have been delivered to me by my Father. And no one knows the Son except the Father, nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and those to whom the Son is willing to reveal him²⁸Come to me, all you who labor and have been burdened, and I will refresh you²⁹Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you shall find rest for your souls³⁰For my yoke is sweet and my burden is light.

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on the relationship between the Spirit of God and our daily lives. In the second reading from Romans, St. Paul contrasts living "in the flesh" with living "in the spirit." He reminds us that if the Spirit of Christ dwells within us, we are called to mortify the deeds of the flesh and instead live according to the Spirit. This is not about rejecting our humanity but about allowing God’s grace to transform us from within. The context of this passage is Paul’s broader discussion of the struggle between the flesh and the spirit, a theme central to the Christian life. He emphasizes that true freedom and life come not from indulging our selfish desires but from surrendering to the power of the Holy Spirit. In the Gospel, Jesus speaks of the Father’s wisdom in revealing divine truths to "little ones" rather than to the wise and the proud. This reflects the humility required to follow Christ. Jesus then extends an invitation to all who are burdened, offering rest and refreshment. The yoke of Christ, though it may seem heavy, is actually "sweet and light" because it is rooted in love and humility. The context here is Jesus’ response to the Pharisees’ hardness of heart, contrasting their pride with the simplicity and openness of those who are willing to learn from him. Together, the readings remind us that living in the Spirit and following Christ require humility and trust in God’s wisdom over human wisdom. In our daily lives, these readings challenge us to examine how we approach challenges and burdens. Are we trying to carry our crosses alone, relying on our own strength, or are we turning to the Spirit for guidance and grace? Jesus invites us to yoke ourselves to him, not because he wants to add to our burdens, but because he desires to share them with us and give us rest. The moral lesson is clear: true freedom and peace come from living in the Spirit and embracing humility. Let us ask for the grace to let go of pride and self-reliance, and instead, trust in God’s wisdom and love to carry us through.