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The coming of the Messiah

Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (A), Zechariah 9:9-10.

This Sunday’s overture reading relates to the last paragraph of the Gospel reading. The two are linked especially by the word "meek." Jesus describes himself as meek, and Zechariah has God describing the Messiah who was to come with the same adjective.

The Book of Zechariah seems to be divided into at least two sections. The earlier section (chapters 1-8) is from about 520 B.C., soon after the return of the exiles, when the temple was being rebuilt. The later section (chapters 9 ff.) seems to have been proclaimed some two hundred years later, during the last decades of the fourth century. It deals with the coming of the Messiah and with final judgment. Our brief Sunday reading is from this latter part of the prophetic book.

These two verses describe the coming of the kingly Messiah. His arrival will be an occasion of joy for God’s people. He will not come like a victorious warlord but as a bringer of peace. He will expel the instruments of war from Jerusalem. No more chariots and horses, and bows and arrows! He himself will ride on a donkey, the animal used by noble personages in the golden ages of the past, a vehicle of peace rather than belligerence. He will not be arrogant and demanding. He will be a meek king, a bringer of justice not of compulsion. And His domain will include all the known world, from the Mediterranean to the Persian Gulf, from the Euphrates to Cyprus and Crete, from north to south, from east to west.

This is a strong and clear messianic pronouncement, one that found resonance and fulfillment in the life and teaching of Jesus.

There is, most memorable of all, Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem toward the end of His public ministry. All four evangelists take pains to point out that Jesus insisted that a donkey be provided for His use on that occasion. It was as if He wanted everybody to be clear about what was happening here: the prophecy of Zechariah was being fulfilled, the king of peace was taking possession of His realm.

Then there is the word used in Zechariah to describe the messianic ruler, the same word that Jesus uses to describe himself in Matthew’s Gospel: meek. The dictionary defines "meek" as enduring injury with patience and without resentment, as not violent. Zechariah’s Messiah would be meek. So would Jesus.

Zechariah was contrasting his vision of the Messiah with the conquering kings of his time, fierce fighters who would lay siege to a city, capture it, carry off all its valuables, and force its inhabitants into slavery. Power and compulsion were their most prominent characteristics. They could make people do their will whether people liked it or not.

Jesus, in our Gospel reading, seems to be contrasting himself with the religious leaders of His time whose interpretation of God’s will involved heavy burdens, ruthlessly imposed and harshly interpreted. These teachers were proud and arrogant in what they asked of those they taught. Jesus didn’t want to be like them.

In our culture, we do not think highly of meekness. It is redolent of weakness. It suggests that we are not able to take care of ourselves. Meek people are those that everybody takes advantage of. We tend rather to respect power and self-assertion. We want to be able to look out for ourselves, and even though we may not be interested in grinding people under our heel, we certainly don’t intend to allow ourselves to be pushed around.

All this was not of any particular interest to the Messiah that Zechariah spoke about, i.e., to Jesus. Power and control and self-assertion were not of consequence to Him. He didn’t need them. They were not part of His equipment. Jesus was involved in proclaiming the love of the Father for His human creatures, a love that was and is strong enough to include mercy and patience. In return, Jesus looks for self-gift and generosity from His followers. He doesn’t force anybody to follow Him. He doesn’t enslave anybody. He is strong enough to be able to invite us to share God’s love and then to wait for our freely given response.

We tend to like power because power works quickly and efficiently. You get things done if you are powerful. Results come more quickly if you can make people do what you want them to do. But Jesus is not interested in immediate results. Jesus is interested in the gift of our hearts to Him and to His Father. So He approaches us meekly and with a humble heart.

For reflection and discussion

What part does meekness play in my life?

Does power have any role to play in Jesus’ plan of salvation?



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	*Overtures* Reflection on the first readings of the Sunday liturgy By Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk The coming of the Messiah Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (A), Zechariah 9:9-10. This Sunday’s overture reading relates to the last paragraph of the Gospel reading. The two are linked especially by the word "meek." Jesus describes himself as meek, and Zechariah has God describing the Messiah who was to come with the same adjective. The Book of Zechariah seems to be divided into at least two sections. The earlier section (chapters 1-8) is from about 520 B.C., soon after the return of the exiles, when the temple was being rebuilt. The later section (chapters 9 ff.) seems to have been proclaimed some two hundred years later, during the last decades of the fourth century. It deals with the coming of the Messiah and with final judgment. Our brief Sunday reading is from this latter part of the prophetic book. These two verses describe the coming of the kingly Messiah. His arrival will be an occasion of joy for God’s people. He will not come like a victorious warlord but as a bringer of peace. He will expel the instruments of war from Jerusalem. No more chariots and horses, and bows and arrows! He himself will ride on a donkey, the animal used by noble personages in the golden ages of the past, a vehicle of peace rather than belligerence. He will not be arrogant and demanding. He will be a meek king, a bringer of justice not of compulsion. And His domain will include all the known world, from the Mediterranean to the Persian Gulf, from the Euphrates to Cyprus and Crete, from north to south, from east to west. This is a strong and clear messianic pronouncement, one that found resonance and fulfillment in the life and teaching of Jesus. There is, most memorable of all, Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem toward the end of His public ministry. All four evangelists take pains to point out that Jesus insisted that a donkey be provided for His use on that occasion. It was as if He wanted everybody to be clear about what was happening here: the prophecy of Zechariah was being fulfilled, the king of peace was taking possession of His realm. Then there is the word used in Zechariah to describe the messianic ruler, the same word that Jesus uses to describe himself in Matthew’s Gospel: meek. The dictionary defines "meek" as enduring injury with patience and without resentment, as not violent. Zechariah’s Messiah would be meek. So would Jesus. Zechariah was contrasting his vision of the Messiah with the conquering kings of his time, fierce fighters who would lay siege to a city, capture it, carry off all its valuables, and force its inhabitants into slavery. Power and compulsion were their most prominent characteristics. They could make people do their will whether people liked it or not. Jesus, in our Gospel reading, seems to be contrasting himself with the religious leaders of His time whose interpretation of God’s will involved heavy burdens, ruthlessly imposed and harshly interpreted. These teachers were proud and arrogant in what they asked of those they taught. Jesus didn’t want to be like them. In our culture, we do not think highly of meekness. It is redolent of weakness. It suggests that we are not able to take care of ourselves. Meek people are those that everybody takes advantage of. We tend rather to respect power and self-assertion. We want to be able to look out for ourselves, and even though we may not be interested in grinding people under our heel, we certainly don’t intend to allow ourselves to be pushed around. All this was not of any particular interest to the Messiah that Zechariah spoke about, i.e., to Jesus. Power and control and self-assertion were not of consequence to Him. He didn’t need them. They were not part of His equipment. Jesus was involved in proclaiming the love of the Father for His human creatures, a love that was and is strong enough to include mercy and patience. In return, Jesus looks for self-gift and generosity from His followers. He doesn’t force anybody to follow Him. He doesn’t enslave anybody. He is strong enough to be able to invite us to share God’s love and then to wait for our freely given response. We tend to like power because power works quickly and efficiently. You get things done if you are powerful. Results come more quickly if you can make people do what you want them to do. But Jesus is not interested in immediate results. Jesus is interested in the gift of our hearts to Him and to His Father. So He approaches us meekly and with a humble heart. For reflection and discussion** What part does meekness play in my life? Does power have any role to play in Jesus’ plan of salvation?

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