Weekly Missionary Reflection
14th Sunday in ordinary time, 09 July 2023
Zech. 9:9-10; Ps. 145:1-2,8-9,10-11,13cd-14; Rom. 8:9,11-13; Matt. 11:25-30
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” (Matthew 11:25).
This statement of Jesus shows that true wisdom and knowledge do not come from human intelligence, but it’s the gift from God. God hides His wisdom from those who think they are wise and clever but reveals His wisdom to those who are humble and willing to accept His truth. Jesus then invites those who labor and are burdened to come to Him. He promises them rest and a light burden. Jesus offers a path that is different from the hectic life and full of heavy burdens.
What is the exact life that Jesus wants? In Paul’s letters to the Romans that we hear today, he clearly said: live in the Spirit and do not live according to the flesh. Paul reminded them that as members of the Christian church we no more live in the flesh as the Lord dwells in us. As the Lord dwells in us, we should reveal the fruit of the spirit: “The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23) and reject the desire of the flesh, “… Immortality or any impurity of greed …, obscenity or silly or suggestive talk” (Ephesians 5:3-4).
By living in the spirit, we can freely let ourselves come to Jesus. In order to come to Jesus, we just need to open ourselves and let the grace of the Lord work in our lives.
In our daily lives, we sometimes doubt the power of Jesus. We find another power to justify our deeds and words or find another power to rely on. We do not involve Jesus in our daily lives and seem to trust the “other masters” more which eventually makes us weary, tired, stressful. Too often we are trapped in our own mind and thinking and feel that everything is within our control. Through today’s Gospel reading, God invites us to admit our limit and that we fully rely on Him. When we humbly open our hearts, God will send His Holy Spirit to illuminate our thought and deeds.
Let’s humbly come to Jesus and completely open ourselves to God’s infinite love and let God’s work involve in our entire lives. Amen.
(Ignasius Lede – Commission for Mission of The Bishop’s Conference of Indonesia)
DAILY DEDICATED PRAYER
Lord, our Father, I present my today prayer, thought, word, work, joy, and sorrow in unity with Your Son, Jesus Christ, who always presents Himself in the Eucharist for the salvation of the world. May the Holy Spirit animating Jesus, also be my guidance and strength today so that I am ready to be the witness of Your love.
Together with St. Mary, Mother of Jesus, and the Church, in particular, I present my prayer for our Pope and apostle prayer of the Indonesian Church of this month:
For a Eucharistic life
We pray that Catholics may place the celebration of the Eucharist at the heart of their lives, transforming human relationships in a very deep way and opening to the encounter with God and all their brothers and sisters.
Political awareness We pray that many young Catholics are called to enter politics and become government officials, so they can get involved in making policies for the sake of national development and solution to social problems.
Amen.
Situs Resmi Karya Misi Kepausan Indonesia (KMKI) 