CELC The Seventh Sunday after Pentecost

The Seventh Sunday after Pentecost – July 3, 2005

Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30

It is a challenging day. Where should I begin? I could say to all you who are so faithful and here to worship that you remind me of the faithful remnant. You may remember that when Israel strayed from God the scriptures tell us that God counted on a ‘faithful remnant’ to keep the covenant. Like those faithful few, you are here today and let me say that I appreciate your presence here as you make my worship and the worship of your fellow believers much more meaningful by your presence. Thank you for being here.

We could start with the remnant, but that has more to do with the 4^th of July holiday than it does with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Having so few in worship is due to the fact that everybody is out there working hard at taking time off. Even with gasoline costing more than $2.00 per gallon, a record number of people are traveling. So the remnant idea is not going to work.

Perhaps we could shift to the big weekend celebration of the anniversary of the founding of our beloved country. After all, it is the day before the 4^th of July. However, we would once again wander from the gospel if all we did today was discuss fireworks and the chance to overindulge at a picnic.

So, neither the remnant nor the civil celebrations of this weekend lead us to the gospel of God in Jesus Christ. Perhaps the gospel lesson for today is where we need to turn. Rather than look to ourselves and our modern lifestyles as a way to hear the Word of God for us, let us listen to the scriptures themselves.

Out of the eleventh chapter of Matthew the gospel lesson contains those beautiful and reassuring words: “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

Unfortunately, we have lost the meaning of these words. Jesus is calling all those who are weary and carrying heavy burdens. Now, what does Jesus mean by “burdens?” When Janet and I go on our day hikes in the Blue Ridge Mountains one of us carries the backpack with our water, lunch and other things in it. You can guess whether it is Janet or me that wears the backpack. But, know that a backpack is not the burden Jesus is speaking of in this passage. It is not a literal burden you would carry like lunch in a backpack.

Nor is it the burden of ill health, a conflicted marriage or family, or a stressful job that is unfulfilling.

No, the burden which Jesus speaks of is the religious burden being placed on people of his time by the authorities in charge. They had numerous laws to be followed and enforced them always. Jesus knew that the people were being unfairly burdened by the religion of the time. And remember religion is defined as that which we do to be devout people of God. Religion is often not related to faith at all, but is more something one human creates to burden another human.

That kind of burden can still be with us when people are told in the name of religion that they are unacceptable because they are not devout enough. It seems there are numerous volunteers who will judge others quickly and burden those who they judge with religious requirements that are not necessary.

In fact that had been happening at the time of Jesus and several different groups are mentioned just prior to this passage in Matthew 11. Jesus mentions “this generation,” as well as those who judge John the Baptist first for not eating and drinking with others and then turned on Jesus who they condemned for eating and drinking with tax collectors and sinners. You see the volunteer judgers are never satisfied with whatever you do. They always have some other requirement for you to be considered religious.

To all people, those of his time and ours, Jesus responds to the authorities who wrongly burden people with religion instead of faith by offering “rest.” Now, if ‘burden’ is a misunderstood word in this gospel lesson, so is “rest.” By “rest” our Lord Jesus means the full relationship you have with God and one another through his death on the cross. Through his shed blood we are reconciled to God and one another. You can say that we “rest” in the cross, because we do.

Furthermore, as we come to Jesus for rest we do the Sabbath rest with Jesus. It is a moment in our week to look around and remember what God blesses us with daily, even life itself.

So, give up the religion people would like you to have. Give up the religion where Jesus and the cross are not necessary because you are hard at work doing all the things that will make you acceptable to God. Such self-made religion is onerous to God. God in Christ accepts the unacceptable; God in Christ accepts even me and you.

So, go to Jesus with your weariness and burdens and receive the gift of grace you are given in the cross. There is the rest you so desire. In our Lord Jesus you rest with God. Amen.

Pastor Robert F. Holley