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 14^th Sunday, Year A: Homily by Fr Isaac Chima

Theme: Learn from me (Mt 11:29): Making Christ Our Role Model

Readings: Zec 9:9–10; Rom 8:9.11–13; Mt 11:25–30

Dear friends in Christ, every social space in our world is full of people who implicitly or explicitly offer themselves as models to be followed. These individuals represent different lifestyles, many of which contradict the moral values of society and the teachings of the Church. Today, Jesus invites us to make him our role model and to learn from his own way of life. Let us reflect on what the readings of this Sunday teach us in this regard.

The message of the first reading lies in the reason the prophet Zechariah asked Israel to rejoice. The section we read today was likely written when Israel was under Greek rule during the reign of Alexander the Great, who conquered the known world at a very young age. Zechariah had before his eyes the arrogant lifestyle of this powerful king, who oppressed Israel, as well as the lifestyles of other rulers of the Ancient Near East. Suddenly, God opened his eyes to a future king who would rule Israel and the world—a king whose qualities and lifestyle would sharply contrast those of the rulers of Zechariah’s time.

According to Zechariah’s vision, this future king would be gentle and humble. He would speak of peace instead of war; he would not be proud but humble; he would ride on a donkey instead of a horse; he would love instead of hate; he would give justice instead of injustice; he would be merciful instead of vengeful. These beautiful qualities of the king God promised made Zechariah exclaim with joy, inviting his people to rejoice and be glad.

Zechariah’s prophecy of a gentle and humble king was fulfilled in Jesus Christ. In today’s Gospel, Jesus, our King, describes himself as humble and gentle—qualities that the kings of the Ancient Near East would have considered signs of weakness. As a humble and gentle king, Jesus rode on a donkey instead of a horse (Mt 21:7). He proclaimed peace instead of war (Mt 5), restraint instead of retaliation (Mt 5:38–39), and love of enemies instead of killing them (Mt 5:44).

To all of us who have seen Christ’s qualities and his style of kingship, he extends an invitation in today’s Gospel, saying, “learn from me”. He wants us to imitate him, to copy his way of life, to make him our role model. Jesus wants us to choose his lifestyle rather than the lifestyles of the arrogant rulers of our world or the celebrities who promote moral values contrary to the Gospel.

What does it mean to learn from Christ? What does making Christ our role model entail? Learning from Christ demands that we do not stubbornly cling to the things worldly wisdom has taught us. Instead, we must be childlike so that our lives become malleable to the direction of the Spirit of God. St Paul reiterates this in the second reading.

Learning from Christ means that before taking any action, we ask ourselves what Christ would have done in the same circumstance. If the way I want to act is not the way Christ would have acted, then I should refrain from such action. Learning from Christ means telling myself that if the way I want to speak to my wife, husband, children, friends, or colleagues is not the way Christ would have spoken to them, then I should not speak that way. Learning from Christ means telling myself that if what I want to say contradicts what Christ has taught, I should keep quiet. It means telling myself that if the way I want to treat another person is not the way Christ would have treated them, then I should refrain from treating them that way.

This approach should be reflected in everything we do: the way we walk and work, the way we help people, the way we dress, and the way we love. Christ is telling us that in matters of faith and morals, we must make him our model.

The challenge before us today is to search our hearts and sincerely tell ourselves the truth about the people we have made the models of our lives—the people we allow to influence our choices, the footsteps we are following, and the teachings upon which we have built our lives. It is shameful for a Christian to choose as a role model someone whose life contradicts the teachings of Christ and the moral values promoted by the Church. It is equally contradictory for a Christian to build his life upon teachings that run against the demands of Christ. Who, then, is that celebrity, politician, or businessman you have made your role model? Who is that person informing your choices and decisions? Does his or her lifestyle radiate the spirit of Christ or the spirit of the evil one?

In the second reading, St Paul reminds us who we are as Christians. He tells us that we are no longer in the flesh but in the Spirit. If indeed the Spirit of God dwells in us, it would be wrong—indeed self‑destructive—to make those who live according to the flesh our role models. St Paul invites us to shun learning how to live, choose, and act from those who follow the desires of the flesh, because living according to the flesh leads to death. All role models who entice us with worldly desires or lure us into carnal living are certainly leading us down the path of death.

Let us pray in today’s Mass for the grace to choose Christ—and those who live according to his teachings—as our models in everything.

Peace be with you.

Rev. Fr. Isaac Chinemerem Chima