Readings: Zechariah 9:9–10; Psalm 145; Romans 8:9, 11–13; Matthew 11:25–30
“Come to me… Learn from me…”
Dear friends, Today we celebrate the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time. The theme of our reflection is drawn from today’s Gospel according to Matthew: “Come to me… Learn from me.”
Our world is filled with challenges and heavy burdens. Many people are suffering and are being pushed to the edge of despair. Some struggle with stress, depression, unforgiveness, sinful lifestyles, and emotional wounds caused by others or by difficult life circumstances. Sadly, some have even taken their own lives in an attempt to escape these burdens.
Many families are falling apart. Couples who once began their marriage as the best of friends and vowed to love each other until death have become enemies. Homes, which should be places of security, love, and consolation, have instead become places of fear, conflict, and violence.
Institutions established to nurture and protect our children, such as schools and even places of worship, have in some cases become unsafe. Public officials, entrusted with serving citizens through resources generated by taxation, too often become obstacles to progress because of corruption. Our streets are increasingly unsafe, even for police officers. Deceiving others for personal gain has become a profession, and violence in its many forms has become an accepted part of everyday life for far too many people.
In my own parish, I witness these struggles every day. Polygamous households find it increasingly difficult to provide enough food for their large families. The situation is made even more difficult by certain cultural traditions and practices that favour men while discriminating against women, young people, and children. As a result, many remain trapped by human-made customs and social structures that deny them freedom, dignity, and opportunities for growth.
Even today, some young girls continue to suffer through Female Genital Mutilation and are married off to men old enough to be their fathers in exchange for cattle. At the same time, many young men remain economically dependent because they are denied the freedom to own cattle or land. Corruption and poor political leadership have further slowed development for decades, leaving countless people trapped in a cycle of poverty and dependence.
The situation becomes even more challenging because those who hold decision-making power are often unwilling to embrace change or new ways of thinking. In many cases, they discourage others from learning and questioning long-held practices. This creates significant obstacles to social development and makes the work of evangelization particularly demanding.
Nevertheless, through creative and innovative pastoral initiatives, we have been able to accompany and transform lives—one person, one family, and one community at a time. The process is slow, but it is bearing fruit and giving hope for lasting change.
Into this reality, the Prophet Zechariah proclaims God’s promise of peace—not a peace that simply means the absence of conflict or hardship, but a peace that sustains hope in the midst of life’s struggles. He foretells the coming of a victorious King who will establish His reign through humility rather than force.
In the second reading, St. Paul reminds us that we have a choice. We can reject the desires of our sinful nature that lead to corruption and injustice, and instead live according to the Spirit of God. This life-giving message is not found in the slogans of the streets or the promises of political rallies. It is discovered through a sincere relationship with God and nurtured within His Body, the Church, which faithfully teaches His truth and values.
Fulfilling the mission entrusted to Him by the Father, Jesus stretches out His hands and says: “Come to me, all you who labour and are burdened, and I will give you rest.” What a comforting invitation in these difficult times!
Jesus reminds us that “He became man to reveal the Father’s love, reconcile us with God through His death and resurrection, and invite us to share His life.”. He is our surest refuge and our most faithful companion. He reveals to us the compassionate and merciful heart of the Father. When people and institutions fail us, Christ remains completely trustworthy. All that is required of us is to place our confidence in Him.
Yet trusting Jesus is not a passive act. He immediately adds another invitation: “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me.” What does this mean? To learn from Jesus is to imitate Him. It means listening to His words, studying His teachings, and allowing His example to shape our lives. We encounter Him especially in Sacred Scripture, where we learn how He responded to temptation, suffering, rejection, and every challenge He faced.
We cannot truly learn from Jesus if we keep our distance from Him. The Eucharist is the closest and most intimate encounter we can have with Christ. There He nourishes us with His own Body and Blood and strengthens us to carry our daily crosses.
The difficulty is that many Christians live fragmented lives. It is like standing in shallow water where only part of the body becomes wet while the rest remains dry. We cannot experience the fullness of God’s grace if we give Him only part of ourselves.
To experience the richness of life in Christ, we must immerse ourselves completely in His Kingdom. We must embrace the fullness of our faith and strive to live it consistently. Living a double life or constantly moving from one church to another, or from one self-proclaimed prophet to another in search of breakthrough miracles, only distracts us from the true source of peace and salvation.
Dear friends, today let us honestly examine how we live our faith. Do we truly understand the teachings of our faith and what they demand of us? Do we devote as much effort to learning from Jesus as we do to pursuing financial success or material breakthroughs? What are the real priorities in our lives? Is Jesus and His teaching among our highest priorities? How can Christ relieve our burdens if we have little time for Him, His Word, and His Sacraments?
May we accept His invitation today: “Come to me… Learn from me.” In Him alone we find true rest, lasting peace, and the strength to carry every burden.
Have a blessed Sunday.
Fr. Lawrence Muthee, SVD
SVD JAMBO KENTAN 