"Hear the Word! by Bill Ayres: Fourteenth Sunday of the Year
A reading from the prophecy of Zechariah
(Chapter 9:9-10)
Israel was surrounded geographically on all sides by larger, more powerful nations and was often conquered as war-like kings came riding into town. But the prophet Zechariah presents a different picture of the true king:
“Thus says the Lord: Rejoice heartily, O daughter Zion, shout for joy O daughter Jerusalem! See, your king shall come to you; a just savior is he, meek and riding on an ass, on a colt, the foal of an ass. He shall banish the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem; the warrior’s bow shall be banished, and he shall proclaim peace to the nations. His dominion shall be from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth.”
Zechariah is talking about the hoped-for messiah who, we believe, was Jesus who did not enter Jerusalem (on the day we observe as Palm Sunday) as a conqueror on horseback but rather as a servant on a donkey, a beast of burden. He did that intentionally, to make an important point about who he really was.
Responsorial Psalm
(Psalm 145:1-2, 8-9, 10-11, 13-14)
“I will praise your name forever, my king and my God.” This king is not like any other. He is “gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness.”
A reading from St. Paul's Letter to the Romans
(Chapter 8:9, 11-13)
“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. 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.”
Paul uses the word Spirit four times in this short saying because he wants to make sure that his readers know this most important truth, that the very Spirit of God, which we call the Holy Spirit, lives in each one of us. Do you believe that for you? Do you call upon the Holy Spirit, pray to the Holy Spirit?
I must say that as a young man attending Catholic high school and college I did not “get it.” I prayed to Jesus and to our Father, who were apart from me, but not to the Holy Spirit who I later learned lived within me. Coming to know the presence of the Holy Spirit within my soul has been a wonderful gift. Think about it. You and I are never really alone. We have the presence of God’s own Spirit within us—always, even in our darkest, most painful moments. Please take a little time to say hello and open your heart to the Spirit.
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew
(Chapter 11:25-30)
Jesus said to the apostles, “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.”
“Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy 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 is light.”
The Jewish people were monotheists. They believed in one God who they thought of as their Father. Jesus is saying that he is the Son of that same Father and that he and the Father are one. So, Jesus is saying only that he is the Messiah but much more. He shares the very life of God. Many in his time could not get it, but Jesus wants those who do get it to know a different way of living—not under the yoke of an enslaver but in companionship with one who shares a yoke that is easy and a burden that is light.
Sometimes, it might seem that our burdens are not so light: almost routine news of gun violence, the lingering threat of illness from the Covid virus, economic hardships, and seemingly intractable poverty and dislocation of defenseless people.
What are you doing to lighten your burdens and those of people around you? What are the main sources of life for you? Do you seek them out and rejoice in them? Let us remember to be in touch with the very Spirit of God who lives in each of us.
✝️
Fresco, Christ's Entry into Jerusalem by Pietro Lorenzetti (1280-1348). Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, Assisi, Italy. Public domain.
Excerpts from the English translation of the Lectionary for Mass © 1969, 1981, 1997, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation (ICEL). All rights reserved.
Bill Ayres was a founder, with the late singer Harry Chapin, of WhyHunger. He has been a radio and TV broadcaster for 40 years and has two weekly Sunday-night shows on WPLJ, 95.5 FM in New York. He is a member of Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Church in Centerport, New York.
Subscribe
Topics
- RENEW International (261)
- Sharon Krause (211)
- Reflections on the coming Sunday's Gospel (116)
- Jesus Christ (69)
- prayer (61)
- Hear the Word! by Bill Ayres (42)
- Bill Ayres (40)
- catholic program renew (33)
- prayer life (31)
- Indwelling of the Holy Spirit (28)
- Lent (26)
- catholic renew progam (24)
- renew catholic program (22)
- Advent (19)
- Christmas (17)
- God's love (17)
- catholic RENEW program (17)
- a reflection on the coming Sunday's Gospel (15)
- The Everyday Gospel: Deacon Charles Paolino (13)
- COVID (12)
- Lenten season (12)
- gratitude (12)
- pandemic (12)
- Holy Spirit (11)
- John the Baptist (11)
- everyday prayer (11)
- Good News (10)
- Gratitude to God (10)
- Sunday readings (10)
- daily prayer (9)
- Scripture (8)
- forgiveness (8)
- resurrection (8)
- Gospel According to Matthew (7)
- Jesus Christ the King (7)
- care for those in poverty (7)
- celebration of the Eucharist (7)
- trust in God (7)
- Catholic social teaching (6)
- Gifts of the Holy Spirit (6)
- God's gifts (6)
- The Resurrection of the Lord (6)
- justice (6)
- patience (6)
- praying (6)
- renewing our faith (6)
- spiritual life (6)
- suffering servant (6)
- Advent prayer (5)
- Dignity and the Death Penalty (5)
- Easter (5)
- God in daily life (5)
- Holy Trinity (5)
- Marian devotion (5)
- Palm Sunday (5)
- RENEW prayers (5)
- The Good Shepherd (5)
- gifts from God (5)
- hope (5)
- spontaneous prayer (5)
- take time to pray (5)
- virus (5)
- Advent journey (4)
- Book of the Prophet Isaiah (4)
- Feeding the hungry (4)
- Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time (4)
- Fifth Sunday of Lent (4)
- First Sunday of Advent (4)
- Fourth Sunday in Lent (4)
- God is love (4)
- Gospel According to Mark (4)
- New Covenant (4)
- New Year (4)
- Ordinary Time (4)
- Psalm 23 (4)
- Second Sunday of Advent (4)
- Second Sunday of Lent (4)
- Sign of the Cross (4)
- St. Joseph (4)
- The Ascension (4)
- The Holy Spirit accompanies us (4)
- Third Sunday of Lent (4)
- body and blood of Christ (4)
- bread of life (4)
- creation (4)
- death penalty (4)
- eternal life (4)
- evangelization (4)
- feast of pentecost (4)
- first sunday of Lent (4)
- having faith (4)
- holy spirit at work (4)
- humility (4)
- mercy (4)
- rosary (4)
- scripture readings (4)
- season of preparation (4)
- third sunday in ordinary time (4)
- time of anticipation (4)
- 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time (3)
- Abba (3)
- Awaken to the Spirit (3)
- Babylonian Exile (3)
- Book of Wisdom (3)
- Christmas season (3)
- Christmas shopping (3)
- Church (3)
- Crucifxion (3)
- Dying to new life (3)
- Eucharist (3)
- Fifth Sunday of Easter (3)
- God's call (3)
- God's forgiveness (3)
- Good Shepherd (3)
- Gospel according to John (3)
- Jesus walks on water (3)
- Lenten journey (3)
- Letter of St. Paul to the Thessalonians (3)
- Pentecost (3)
- Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time (3)
- Seventh Sunday of Easter (3)
- Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time (3)
- Sixth Sunday of Easter (3)
- Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity (3)
- Suffering Messiah (3)
- Sunday Mass (3)
- The Gospel (3)
- attitude of gratitude (3)
- authority of Jesus (3)
- beatitudes (3)
- counting our blessings (3)
- dignity of each person (3)
- disciples (3)
- divinity of Jesus (3)
- epiphany (3)
- fourth sunday in ordinary time (3)
- gift of faith (3)
- give thanks to God (3)
- good deeds (3)
- growing in faith (3)
- inclusion (3)
- joy (3)
- kindness (3)
- open to the Holy Spirit (3)
- personal reflection (3)
- pray (3)
- pray for peace (3)
- priorities (3)
- recreate yourself this New Year (3)
- repentance (3)
- say yes to God's will (3)
- sharing our gifts (3)
- sins (3)
- solemnity of the most holy body and blood of chris (3)
- spiritual renewal (3)
- spreading good news (3)
- thanksgiving (3)
- welcome (3)
- 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time (2)
- 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time (2)
- 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time (2)
- 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time (2)
- 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time (2)
- 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time (2)
- 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time (2)
- Acts of love (2)
- Annunciation (2)
- Assumption of Mary (2)
- Bible (2)
- Book of the Prophet Amos (2)
- Christ the King (2)
- Christian discipleship (2)
- Easter Season (2)
- Easter joy (2)
- Easter season of rebirth (2)
- Emmanuel (2)
- Feast of the Holy Family (2)
- Feast of the Presentation of the Lord (2)
- Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (2)
- God is our help (2)
- God who loves you (2)
- God with us (2)
- God's blessings (2)
- God's mercy (2)
- God's presence (2)
- Gospel according to Luke (2)
- Holy Communion (2)
- Holy Eucharist (2)
- Jesus (2)
- Jesus as teacher (2)
- Jesus feeds the multitude (2)
- Jesus healing (2)
- Love your neighbor as yourself (2)
- Magnificat (2)
- Mary (2)
- Mary and Joseph (2)
- Mary's House (2)
- Messiah (2)
- Nativity of the Lord (2)
- Prophet Ezekiel (2)
- Prophet Jeremiah (2)
- Questions and Answers (2)
- Rely on Jesus (2)
- Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord (2)
- Spirit of love (2)
- St John the Baptist (2)
- The Lord's Prayer (2)
- The Rosary (2)
- Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time (2)
- Virgin Mary (2)
- You shall love the Lord your God (2)
- baptism (2)
- bible study (2)
- birth of our Savior (2)
- bread from heaven (2)
- call to discipleship (2)
- centering prayer (2)
- covid-19 (2)
- crèche (2)
- decorations (2)
- distractions from prayer (2)
- divorce (2)
- do not be afraid (2)
- doubting Thomas (2)
- encounter with Christ (2)
- every knee shall bend (2)
- faith in Jesus (2)
- faithful (2)
- fear not (2)
- fourth sunday of advent (2)
- generosity (2)
- good works (2)
- gratefulness (2)
- greatest commandment (2)
- holding grudges (2)
- holiness (2)
- hope in God (2)
- hope in the Lord (2)
- insight (2)
- kingdom of God (2)
- listening to God (2)
- love of neighbor (2)
- magi (2)
- marriage (2)
- meditation (2)
- mental incompetence (2)
- mission (2)
- need prayer and reflection (2)
- optimism (2)
- parables (2)
- peace (2)
- penance (2)
- praise God (2)
- prayer of gratitude (2)
- prayer of thanksgiving (2)
- prayers of gratitude (2)
- prepare for Christmas (2)
- promise of new life (2)
- raising of Lazarus (2)
- reach out to others in mercy and love (2)
- reconciliation (2)
- repent and believe in the gospel (2)
- resurrection in our lives (2)
- road to Emmaus (2)
- sabbath (2)
- savior (2)
- saying grace (2)
- second coming of Christ (2)
- second sunday in ordinary time (2)
- servant leadership (2)
- share your faith (2)
- small faith sharing groups (2)
- social justice (2)
- solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord (2)
- something new (2)
- spend time with God (2)
- spirit of the lord (2)
- spiritual grouth (2)
- spirituality (2)
- spread the Gospel (2)
- status of women (2)
- suffering (2)
- teaching children about God (2)
- temptation (2)
- thanking God (2)
- the examined life (2)
- the just one (2)
- thinking (2)
- third sunday of advent (2)
- thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (2)
- thoughtfulness (2)
- treatment of women (2)
- trust in the Lord (2)
- use your gifts (2)
- vineyard of the Lord (2)
- wedding garment (2)
- wisdom (2)
- woman at the well (2)
- women in the Church (2)
- words (2)
- 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (1)
- 2021 (1)
- 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (1)
- 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (1)
- 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time (1)
- 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time (1)
- 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time (1)
- 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (1)
- 3rd Sunday of Advent (1)
- 4th Sunday of Advent (1)
- Adam and Eve (1)
- Advent Wreath (1)
- Advent calendar (1)
- Apostle Andrew (1)
- Ascension (1)
- Ash Wednesday (1)
- Autumn (1)
- Awake (1)
- Baptism of Our Lord (1)
- Baptism of the Lord (1)
- Be awake (1)
- Be still (1)
- Be watchful (1)
- Behold (1)
- Benedictine nun (1)
- Birth of John the Baptist (1)
- Blessed Mother (1)
- Blessed Trinity (1)
- Blessed Virgin Mary (1)
- Body of Christ (1)
- Book of Judges (1)
- Book of Kings (1)
- Book of Proverbs (1)
- Book of the Prophet Ezekiel (1)
- Catechism (1)
- Catholic (1)
- Catholic Faith (1)
- Catholic education (1)
- Charity (1)
- Charles Paolino (1)
- Children's Easter story (1)
- Christ child (1)
- Christ's love (1)
- Christian unity (1)
- Christian witness (1)
- Christmas Day (1)
- Christmas Star (1)
- Christmas carols (1)
- Christmas pageant (1)
- Covenant with Israel (1)
- Creation at the Crossroads (1)
- Creator God (1)
- Diocese of Brooklyn (1)
- Divine Office (1)
- Easter Sunday (1)
- Elijah (1)
- Father Son and Holy Spirit (1)
- Feast of the Baptism of the Lord (1)
- First Book of Samuel (1)
- First Commandment (1)
- First letter of Saint John (1)
- Fourth Sunday of Easter (1)
- Genesis (1)
- Gentiles (1)
- God always with you (1)
- God forgives (1)
- God full of love (1)
- God is with us (1)
- God works in mysterious ways (1)
- God's generosity (1)
- God's guidance (1)
- God's healing (1)
- God's plan (1)
- God's presence in life (1)
- God's unconditional love for all (1)
- God's voice (1)
- Gospel of John (1)
- Gospel of Mark (1)
- Hail Holy Queen (1)
- Haitian Creole (1)
- Holy Week (1)
- HolySpirit (1)
- I am the light of the world (1)
- Immaculate Conception (1)
- In God We Trust (1)
- In the beginning was the Word (1)
- Inspired by the Holy Spirit (1)
- Jesus Christ is born (1)
- Jesus as high priest (1)
- Jesus forgives (1)
- Jesus heals (1)
- Jesus loves us (1)
- Jesus' call (1)
- Jesus' love (1)
- Jesus' miracles (1)
- Jesus’ Resurrection (1)
- Jews (1)
- Jonah (1)
- Joseph Mohr (1)
- Last Supper (1)
- Laudato Si" (1)
- Laura DePalma (1)
- Lent prayer (1)
- Lenticular printing (1)
- Let the little children come to me (1)
- Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians (1)
- Letter of St. Paul to the Philippians (1)
- Letter to the Hebrews (1)
- Marian Prayer (1)
- Martha and Mary (1)
- Mary Magdalene (1)
- Mary mother of God (1)
- Mary's intercession (1)
- Matthew 25 Christians (1)
- Meaning of Christmas (1)
- Meet Mary in Prayer (1)
- Moses (1)
- Nativity (1)
- Nativity scene (1)
- Natvity set (1)
- Nearness of God (1)
- Noah (1)
- Oh My God (1)
- Passion of Our Lord (1)
- Poor Richard's Almanac (1)
- Power of the Holy Spirit (1)
- Prediction of the Passion (1)
- Prepare (1)
- Psalm 100 (1)
- Psalm 138 (1)
- Psalm 139 (1)
- Psalm 146 (1)
- Psalm 24 (1)
- Psalm 34 (1)
- Psalm 63 (1)
- Psalm 80 (1)
- Psalm 85 (1)
- Rejoice and Be Glad (1)
- Sadducees (1)
- Saint Blaise (1)
- Saint Jerome Emiliani (1)
- Saint Peter (1)
- Savior of the world (1)
- Scriptures (1)
- Second Letter of St. Peter (1)
- Second Sunday of Easter (1)
- Silent Night (1)
- Sleeplessness (1)
- Small-Group Ministry (1)
- Solemnity of All Saints (1)
- Son of God (1)
- Special Rosaries (1)
- Sr. Helen Prejean (1)
- St. Callistus I (1)
- St. Damien (1)
- St. Gertrude (1)
- St. Hippolytus (1)
- St. Therese of Lisieux (1)
- St. Thomas (1)
- St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus (1)
- St. patrick (1)
- Star of Bethlehem (1)
- Sunday (1)
- Sunday Gospel (1)
- Sunday Matters (1)
- Temptation of Christ (1)
- Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (1)
- Thanksgiving parade (1)
- The Apostles (1)
- The Boy Jesus (1)
- The Gift of Faith (1)
- The Lord is my rock (1)
- The Lord's Day (1)
- The Memorare (1)
- The Passion of the Lord (1)
- The Prophet Job (1)
- The Word became flesh (1)
- The golden rule (1)
- The holy name (1)
- The kingdom of God is at hand (1)
- The rich young man (1)
- The risen Jesus (1)
- Third Sunday of Easter (1)
- Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time (1)
- Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time (1)
- Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time (1)
- War in Ukraine (1)
- Wedding Feast (1)
- What would Jesus do (1)
- Word of God (1)
- Zacchaeus (1)
- Zaccheus (1)
- Zoom (1)
- abundant life (1)
- acceptance (1)
- accessible (1)
- adoration (1)
- agapé (1)
- angels (1)
- anxiety (1)
- apostle Peter (1)
- applying Scripture to your life (1)
- appreciation (1)
- ark (1)
- artist creator (1)
- attentiveness (1)
- authentic discipleship (1)
- autumn leaves (1)
- autumn prayer (1)
- awareness (1)
- baby Jesus (1)
- be less judgmental (1)
- being a disciple (1)
- being positive (1)
- blessed (1)
- blessing of throats (1)
- called to follow (1)
- campaign (1)
- census tax (1)
- choices (1)
- close encounter (1)
- clothe the naked (1)
- comfort and joy (1)
- comfort the sick (1)
- communion of saints (1)
- compassion (1)
- confession (1)
- confirmation sponsor (1)
- connecting faith and life (1)
- courage (1)
- crib (1)
- crucifixion (1)
- despair (1)
- devotion to Saints (1)
- disciples of Jesus (1)
- discipleship (1)
- divine help (1)
- divine intervention (1)
- divine mercy (1)
- divine providence (1)
- driving responsibly (1)
- election (1)
- encounter Jesus (1)
- end of liturgical year (1)
- epiphany of the Lord (1)
- evangelize by witness (1)
- evangelizer (1)
- examining conscience (1)
- experience god's presence (1)
- faith sharing group (1)
- false prophets (1)
- fasting (1)
- feast of unity (1)
- feed the hungry (1)
- first letter of saint paul to the corinthians (1)
- fog (1)
- follow Jesus (1)
- follow the gospel (1)
- following the way of the cross (1)
- gift of God (1)
- gift wrapping (1)
- give glory (1)
- glory (1)
- glory to god (1)
- go in peace (1)
- godparents (1)
- good Samaritan (1)
- good christian lives (1)
- good will (1)
- gospel challenges (1)
- greatest gift (1)
- growing in love (1)
- hallowed be thy name (1)
- handy (1)
- healing of the blind man (1)
- hearts and minds (1)
- his people on earth (1)
- holiday (1)
- hope and promise (1)
- house of the Lord (1)
- human dignity (1)
- humanity and divinity of Christ (1)
- humble life (1)
- imitating Jesus (1)
- inner peace (1)
- insomnia (1)
- intercessory prayer (1)
- interior life (1)
- intimacy with Christ (1)
- introspection (1)
- invitation (1)
- joy and wonder of the resurrection (1)
- joy from the Lord (1)
- lamb of God (1)
- least of them (1)
- life in christ (1)
- like a thief at night (1)
- little prayers (1)
- lives of joy and gladness (1)
- love of God (1)
- love of self (1)
- love one another (1)
- love one another as I love you (1)
- love your neighbor (1)
- lullaby (1)
- magician (1)
- magnificence of God's love (1)
- man born blind (1)
- maturing in faith (1)
- meek and humble of heart (1)
- mental health (1)
- messages (1)
- messengers of God's love (1)
- mind and body (1)
- minister with humility (1)
- ministry of evangelization (1)
- multiplication of the loaves and fishes (1)
- new beginnings (1)
- new perspectives (1)
- night prayer (1)
- nourishing the soul (1)
- online community (1)
- online small groups (1)
- openness (1)
- pandemic lessons (1)
- parable (1)
- parable of the 10 virgins (1)
- parable of the hidden treasure (1)
- parable of the pearl (1)
- parable of the talents (1)
- parable of the tax collector and the Pharisee (1)
- parable of the two sons (1)
- parable of the wicked tenants (1)
- peace be with you (1)
- peace of mind (1)
- persecution (1)
- persist in prayer (1)
- pillar of cloud (1)
- power of the Spirit (1)
- pray together (1)
- praying with a psalm (1)
- praying with children (1)
- prepare for Easter (1)
- prepare the way of the Lord (1)
- problem solving (1)
- procrastination (1)
- prostitutes (1)
- psalm 131 (1)
- psalms (1)
- real presence of Christ (1)
- rebrand (1)
- receive the Holy Spirit (1)
- reflect on God's presence (1)
- reflection (1)
- rejoice (1)
- remembering (1)
- render unto caesar (1)
- renew our faith (1)
- renewed outlook on faith (1)
- respect for the will of God (1)
- respond "yes" to God's call (1)
- respond to the call (1)
- restraint (1)
- retreat (1)
- rote learning (1)
- sacrament of baptism (1)
- sacrament of reconciliation (1)
- salt of the earth (1)
- salvation is through Jesus (1)
- seek the Lord (1)
- self control (1)
- self-awareness (1)
- self-sacrifice (1)
- sense of hope (1)
- serenity (1)
- service (1)
- serving others (1)
- seventy seven times (1)
- share love of Christ (1)
- sharing your faith (1)
- silence (1)
- silent prayer (1)
- sinfulness (1)
- sins of the world (1)
- sleep (1)
- slogans (1)
- slow down (1)
- social distancing (1)
- son of Mary (1)
- spend time with Jesus (1)
- spiritual reading (1)
- starting fresh (1)
- stations (1)
- stay awake (1)
- stress (1)
- summer (1)
- summer as time to reflect on God's presence (1)
- talents (1)
- tax collectors (1)
- the common good (1)
- the elect (1)
- the miraculous catch of fish (1)
- the people's prayer book (1)
- the prophet Jonah (1)
- the stone the builders rejected (1)
- thirtieth Sunday of Ordinary Time (1)
- three kings (1)
- three meditations (1)
- to serve God (1)
- transfiguration (1)
- transfiguration of the Lord (1)
- treasure the faith (1)
- trimmings (1)
- true wisdom (1)
- trust in God's mercy (1)
- universal Church (1)
- unlocking our potential (1)
- use time well (1)
- using your talents to serve god (1)
- virtual (1)
- voice crying out in the desert (1)
- we remember (1)
- wedding feast at Cana (1)
- welcome the stranger (1)
- whatever you did for the least of brothers of mine (1)
- when the saints go marching in (1)
- widow's mite (1)
- widows and orphans (1)
- wild turkeys (1)
- witness (1)
- witness to matrimony (1)
- witness to the baptism (1)
- woman found in adultery (1)
- wonder of creation (1)
- workers in the vineyard (1)
- worry closet (1)
- worthy wife (1)
Share a Comment