Home Schooling

Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Reflecting on the Word

By Rev. James A. Wallace, C.Ss.R.

When you think of a king coming before his people, the image of someone riding on a donkey does not come to mind. If the Lone Ranger had Silver and Roy  Rogers had Trigger, a similar white stallion would seem most fitting for a king. Not  an ass, even a purebred one. But this image from the prophet Zechariah is one  that must have planted itself in the imagination of Jesus, for that is how he made  his great entrance into Jerusalem and was greeted as the Messiah. It was not the  entrance of a powerful warrior, but of a gentle king whose rule would bring peace  to the nations. 

I have sometimes regretted the loss of St. Christopher from the calendar of  saints. That legendary saint, whose name means “Christ-bearer,” signaled that  the risen Lord had now chosen to be carried by his disciples. We bear him in  our bodies, minds, and hearts. We bring him to the world when we work to bring  peace and healing and knowledge of the Father. 

This necessitates being willing to take on the yoke of Jesus. I remember once  hearing that the yokes Jesus made in the carpenter shop under Joseph’s guidance rode easily on the shoulders of the animals, distributing evenly the weight  they pulled. The yoke Jesus offers us is his teaching about the kingdom of heaven  and how to live in it while in the world. This means putting on his attitude and  spirit of attentive listening for the will of the Father—home schooling in the best  sense. 

Consider/Discuss

  • How do you believe Jesus will return at the end of time? 
  • Have you accepted the yoke of the Lord? How does it guide you? 

Responding to the Word

Lord, give us the rest only you can give when we feel burdened by life’s labors  and sorrows. Open our hearts so that we learn from you to seek and accept the  yoke that is easy. Give us the strength to help others with the burdens that weigh  them down.

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