14th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Fr. Anthony Brankin
Gospel: Matthew 11:25-30 “Come to Me, all you who are heavy laden.”
Homily summary: Last Wednesday was the Feast of the Sts. Peter and Paul. And last Thursday was the feast of the First Martyrs of Rome. The emperor Nero bound the Christians to poles, smeared them with tar, and set them ablaze to provide light for his garden party. And the Christians sang hymns while they died.
Walk on the spiritual path along with St. Francis de Sales and St. Jane de Chantal into the Love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Are you a lay person interested in plunging more fully into a way of daily devotion? Or considering a vocation to the monastic Visitandine tradition? Go to Visitation Spirit website.
As far as St. Peter, what better city to have the center of the Church, than Rome? Peter was the one who told Jesus that he was the Messiah. Peter and Paul tried to convince the Romans that Jesus was true God and true man, who died on the cross for their sins. The people were thrilled to hear about Jesus. Paul was the greatest teacher we have ever had. Christianity spread throughout the land.
Jealous, he set fire to Rome
Nero, however, was jealous of the popularity of the new religion — Christianity. So he persecuted the Christians, and even set Rome on fire and blamed them. Even today, in Rome they say that the Piazza del Populo is haunted by Nero. By 64 AD, Nero arrested Peter for being a Catholic. He was crucified upside down. Paul was beheaded three years later. His head bounced three times, and made three impressions on the ground where his head hit.
Last Friday was the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Why would God care for us? He accepted the hatred of his own people, and of the pagans. Why? It is because of his love. He sees himself in his goodness in us. We participate in his love by being active members of the Catholic Church. We best apprehend his love when we are on the cross with Him. He allows us to participate in his sacrifice because we are his disciples.
Opportunities to suffer for Him
There are many opportunities today to suffer for Him. The world hates us because we believe in family wages, because we don’t believe in birth control, or the killing of babies by abortion, or killing senior citizens in their beds.
We also believe that homosexual acts are immoral. This will be the worst Catholic crime as time goes on. Yet, we will be true to the Church and to Jesus Christ.