Scripture Study for

Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Understanding the Word

By Br. John R. Barker, OFM

In this salvation oracle to the post-exilic community, the identity  of the royal figure is unstated, but he fulfills the expectations of  many prophets of the ideal Davidic king. Donkeys were regularly  associated with royal figures in the ancient Near East and the fact  that he arrives on a donkey rather than on a horse, with all the  military connotations of that animal, suggests this “just savior”  will be humble and peaceful. He ends warfare in both the former  kingdom of Israel (Ephraim) and in Jerusalem. The mention of  Israel, destroyed centuries before the oracle was probably uttered,  points toward the divine will to bring all of God’s people, currently  scattered around the world, back to the land. 

Paul continues his exploration of how the death of Christ has  released those in bondage to sin. He now introduces the idea of  flesh versus spirit. Flesh refers to that aspect of the human person  that opposes God, that remains under the thumb of sin and inclined  toward it. For the baptized, this “flesh” constitutes the “old self,”  which is opposed to the spirit, that aspect of the human person that  is not under the reign of sin but under the reign of the Spirit of God  in Christ. He reminds the Romans that those in whom the Spirit  dwells are no longer under the bondage of sin and therefore are not  “debtors to the flesh.”

Jesus has just proclaimed that Chorazin, Bethsaida, and  Capernaum will face judgment for not repenting after witnessing  his mighty deeds; they have not recognized who Jesus is and what  he is about. They represent “the wise and the learned,” whose  sophistication prevents them from accepting Jesus and his message.  Only the “little ones,” capable of “childlike” faith, are able to see  that Jesus does the work of the Father and reveals him. Those willing  to take on the yoke of discipleship will discover it to be a source of  refreshment, not only because of the subject matter (God), but also  because their teacher (who reveals God) is gentle and kind to those  who wish to learn from him. 

Living the Word logo

Copyright © 2021, 2020, 2019, 2012, 2011, 2010 World Library Publications, a div. of GIA Publications, Inc. www.giamusic.com
All rights reserved. Used by permission.