Mass | July 5, 2026 | 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time

The gospel reading begins with Jesus praising the Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because the Father has hidden these things from the wise and the learned and revealed them to little ones. Jesus stands before leaders who knew the scriptures, knew the traditions, and knew the faith, but often had no real time for what he had to say. The Pharisees, scribes, scholars, and teachers of the law were not simply bad people. Their problem was that their minds had become closed, and a closed mind has a hard time receiving anything new from God.

Nicodemus becomes an exception because his life shows a transformation. Nicodemus comes with questions, listens, wonders, and grows closer to Jesus. His questioning opens his mind to new ideas and new revelations. The gospel holds him up as the kind of person who may know the tradition but still remains open to being taught.

The “little ones” are the rest of the people, not necessarily the most educated or the most important. Many did not listen to Jesus either, but some did. Their openness made room for a new way of thinking about faith and tradition. Children show this kind of openness so clearly, full of excitement, jumping up and down, asking “Why? Why? Why?” The questions may wear adults out after a while, but questions are also how learning happens.

The life of faith needs both study and openness. The scribes and Pharisees are worth imitating in their study of scripture, tradition, and faith. Yet the danger comes when a person says, “That’s it. I’ve got it all. There’s nothing more you can teach me.” The scriptures still have depths, and God can still bring forth something new when minds and hearts stay open.

The Fourth of July remembrance fits this same movement toward new possibility. The founding of the nation came through people who looked at things differently and imagined a new experiment. The gospel then gives the beautiful image of being yoked to Christ. Like two oxen plowing a field together, Christ stays connected to his people on the journey. God does not abandon them. Christ walks with them, opening new possibilities, revealing the faith more deeply, and drawing open minds and open hearts closer to God.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Closed minds miss living revelation [22:36] The religious leaders knew a great deal, but knowledge alone did not make them teachable. The danger was not that they studied too much, but that study hardened into “I’ve got it all.” Faith becomes thin when it protects old conclusions more than it listens for God’s living voice. [22:36]
• 2. Questions can become holy openings [24:18] The child who keeps asking “Why?” shows something important about discipleship. Annoying as questions can feel, they keep the soul from pretending that everything is already settled. A questioning heart can become a place where Christ reveals something deeper, not because it doubts everything, but because it stays awake. [24:18]
• 3. Study needs humility beside it [24:56] The scribes and Pharisees show that serious study of scripture and tradition is good and necessary. Yet study without humility can become a trap, turning faith into possession instead of communion. The mind that knows much still needs the posture of a little one before God. [24:56]
• 4. Christ shares the yoke [26:21] The image of the yoke is not mainly about being loaded down, but about being joined to Christ. Like two oxen working the field together, the disciple is not sent through life alone. Christ stays near, guiding the work, carrying the strain, and keeping the journey turned toward God. [26:21]
• 5. Openness keeps faith alive [27:42] New revelations do not mean abandoning the faith, but entering its depths more honestly. The scriptures, traditions, and life with God remain full of riches that have not yet been seen. An open mind and an open heart allow the journey to keep moving closer to God.
  
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Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [08:07] - Confession and Mercy
• [11:39] - Opening Prayer
• [19:12] - Gospel Reading from Matthew
• [20:44] - Jesus and the Closed Leaders
• [21:34] - Nicodemus and Transformation
• [22:36] - Hidden from the Wise
• [23:19] - The Little Ones Receive
• [24:18] - Children, Questions, and Learning
• [24:56] - Study Without Closing the Mind
• [25:45] - July Fourth and New Possibilities
• [26:21] - Yoked to Christ
• [27:42] - Open Minds and Hearts
• [28:40] - Profession of Faith
• [36:33] - Eucharistic Prayer and Thanksgiving

1. In Matthew 11:25, Jesus contrasts the “wise and understanding” with “little children.” What specific attitudes or actions in the religious leaders (like the Pharisees) made them resistant to Jesus’ message, according to the sermon? [22:36]
2. How does Nicodemus’ story illustrate the difference between closed-mindedness and openness to God’s revelation? [21:34]
3. What does the image of a “yoke” (Matthew 11:29-30) symbolize about the relationship between Jesus and his followers, as explained in the sermon? [26:21]

1. Why might Jesus emphasize that God reveals truth to “little children” rather than the “wise”? How does this challenge common assumptions about spiritual maturity or expertise?
2. The sermon warns that study of Scripture can become a trap if paired with pride. How does humility protect against this danger while still valuing deep study? [24:56]
3. The yoke metaphor suggests partnership with Christ. How does this imagery redefine what it means to carry life’s burdens compared to living without connection to Him?

1. Reflect on a time when you felt closed off to a new idea or perspective in your faith. What caused that resistance, and how could you cultivate a more “childlike” openness moving forward? [23:19]
2. The sermon compares persistent questions to a child’s “Why? Why? Why?” How do you typically respond when faced with unresolved questions about faith? Do they draw you closer to God or push you away? [24:18]
3. Jesus invites those “heavy laden” to find rest in Him. What burden are you carrying alone right now that you need to surrender to His yoke? What practical step could you take to share that load with Christ? [26:21]
4. The Pharisees studied Scripture diligently but missed its living message. How can you balance studying the Bible with staying open to the Holy Spirit’s fresh insights? [24:56]
5. The sermon ties the Fourth of July to “new possibilities.” Where in your life or community is God inviting you to imagine something new, even if it challenges tradition? [25:45]