14th Sunday in Ordinary Time, July 5: Simple Gift, a Sunday Scriptures blog

Most of us have heard the lyrics to the song “Simple Gifts”:  ’Tis the gift to be simple, ’tis the gift to be free, ’tis the gift to come down where we ought to be. And when we find ourselves in the place just right, it will be in the valley of love and delight. That could be the theme song for this Sunday’s readings. The disciples have returned from preaching the good news, but the “wise and learned” have not converted. Every religion has an “elite” who are thought to be more informed, more perfect. In Jesus’ day it was the scribes and Pharisees, and others who made people skeptical about the teaching of the simple carpenter’s son from an ordinary family. This conflict with the “wise and learned” fits with Paul’s message in Romans. With converted hearts, we become free of religious laws in the sense that we no longer need external rules of religious authorities to tell us what is good and just and loving. Paul called us fools who embrace a crucified savior, a scandal to the wise. With converted hearts we become free of being directed by what Paul calls “the flesh”— our immediate needs for gratification — and we are able to stay focused on the lifelong goal of relationship with the Lord. And so we find ourselves “in the place just right,” at home with the Lord, and listening to the simplicity of his words in our Gospel: Come to me all you who labor and are burdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves…

– Blog entry by Sister Mary Garascia

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.