XIV Sunday of the Year

COUNTER THE CULTURE

Zechariah 9:9-10; Romans 8:9, 11-13; Matthew 11:25-30

Readings for the XIV Sunday of the Year

Extracts from Ellen Goodman’s editorial, “Battling our Culture is Parents’ Task” in the Chicago Tribune:

One of your main jobs as a parent is to counter the culture. What the media delivers to children by the masses, you are expected to rebut one at a time. We need parents who know how to say “no”. But it occurs to me now the call for “parental responsibility” is increasing in direct proportion to marketplace irresponsibility.

Are the kids being sold junk food? Just say no. Is TV bad? Turn it off. Counter the culture. Mothers and fathers are expected to screen virtually every aspect of their children’s lives.

Parents see themselves in a struggle for the hearts and minds of their own children. It isn’t that they can’t say no. It’s that there’s so much more to say no to. It’s not just that families have less time with their kids, it’s that that we must spend more of this time doing battle with our own culture. 

What society compels parents to do today is what Jesus challenged his disciples to do two thousand years ago: counter the culture! Christianity is counter-cultural.

Some indicators of his counter-cultural way: 

▪ God’s revelation is not to “the wise and the learned” but to the “little ones”;

▪ Freedom comes not from escapism but from surrendering to the well-fitting yoke of Jesus; 

▪ God’s preference is for the “childlike” and the poor.

Why should we be counter-cultural?

The second reason is because Jesus challenges us to be counter cultural. 

The first reason is the example of Jesus, who: 

▪ rides not a horse but a colt, a symbol of peace; who proclaims not war but peace; who does not build but destroys weapons (cf. the first reading); 

▪ took the form of a slave, was born in human likeness, and shows us that authority comes not from power but from service;

▪ calls us to learn from his meekness and humility.

Being counter-cultural is not about boycotting companies, signing online petitions, protesting on streets – though these are sometimes needed. Being counter-cultural is living gospel values, living the way Jesus lived.

Will I imitate my God and be counter-cultural? Will I learn from him who is meek and humble of heart? Will I submit to his yoke?