Comment

People of Jesus' day expected to see leaders as a notch or two above the common folk. They were accustomed to thinking of military leaders as people who wore stately uniforms with jewels and medals of precious value, rode the best horses, and drove the shiniest chariots. But Jesus, known for his use of opposites in order to convey a message, denied the norm and rode the colt of a donkey. This move pointed to the peacefulness of the kingdom he promised to rule. Throughout time, it has been hard for people to understand a different view from the norm, but eventually we will come to know that the reign Jesus promises is nothing like what we've experienced on earth.

It is difficult for people to shift their thinking. It's especially tough for those who know too much--those who have been educated in a belief system filled with rules, idiosyncrasies, and misconceptions. Brainwashed and stubborn, set in their ways, there were people of Jesus' time who refused to reshape their thinking. They were not open to any news of a kingdom they could not understand. Their closed-mindedness caused the truth to be hidden from them.

On the other hand, Jesus tells of those who, like a child, have not learned so much. Their minds are open and able to be shaped by the truth. It is these people who accept Jesus' teachings. They are open and welcoming enough to understand the good news.

Paul tells us more about that kingdom. Even though it remains a mystery to us, it is clear that we must die first in order to live with Christ in his kingdom. The death we must undergo is a death that will relieve us of our burdens and labor-filled lives.

Jesus himself promises us rest from those burdens. Further along in today's Gospel, Jesus tells us his yoke is easy and his burden light.