The three Readings for this Sunday have one thing in common – they all show a certain frustration on the part of each speaker at the people being addressed, who either don’t understand or don’t want to take on board the message that is being offered to them. Zechariah presents his listeners with the image of a leader who comes riding on a donkey (not a war horse) and wishes to do away with weapons so that “He will command peace to the nations”.
St. Paul wants to open his listeners eyes to the fact that we are already redeemed, transformed by the Spirit of God dwelling in us, and therefore not victims of our own chaotic wilfulness but always capable of personal growth into “the fullness of Life lived with Christ”.
And Jesus, in the face of rejection from some of his followers, thanks God that it does not depend on the wise and learned to grasp what he is saying, but to those who have not forgotten how it feels to be as open and trusting as when they were little children. Such a perspective requires a change of attitude for each one to arrive at the wisdom being presented, not as an intellectual truth or a burdensome command, but as a spiritual transformation since “The Spirit of God has made his home in you”, and that makes all the difference.
If we really believe that, then no amount of burdens placed upon our shoulders will be too heavy, because the grace and love promised by Jesus will be there to help us carry them, so as to make our yoke easy and our burden light.