July 3, 2011
Pentecost + 3
Prayers of the People
All who are weary and heavy burdened, come let us offer prayers to our God and Father.
For this gathering and for the people of God in every place.
Lord, have mercy.
For all nations, peoples, tribes, clans, and families.
Lord, have mercy.
For mercy, peace, and justice in the world, and for our armed forces everywhere. For our national leaders--Barack, Joe, Sherrod, Rob, and Jim.
Lord, have mercy.
For all those in danger and need: the sick and the suffering, the poor and the oppressed,
prisoners and their families.
Lord, have mercy.
For the dying and the dead.
Lord, have mercy.
For all those captive to sin.
Lord, have mercy.
For ourselves, our families, our companions, and all those we love--whether named aloud or remembered in silence.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord of heaven and earth, hear the prayers we offer today, teach us the secrets of your
heart, and give us rest from our trials; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30
16“But to what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to one another, 17‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we wailed, and you did not mourn.’18For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon’; 19the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.” 25At that time Jesus said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; 26yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 27All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
“The Easy Yoke”
Here we are, today, stuck in the middle between the patriotic fervor of the culture around us, and the easy Yoke to which Jesus calls us.
While patriotism is important to us, it was not terribly important to Jesus. I ran across an address by our denomination's founder, Alexander Campbell some time back on patriotism.
Patriotism, it is conceded, has no special place in the Christian religion. [Jesus Christ] never pronounced a single sentence in commendation of it. The reason is, I presume to say, that the world was his field, and as patriotism is only an extension of the principle of selfishness, he deigned it no regard; because selfishness is now the great and damning sin of [hu]mankind. Still, the very test of morality is self-love. We are commanded to love our neighbor as we love ourselves, neither more nor less. And in his enlarged mind and heart, our neighbor is every [one] in the world. Charity, it is said, begins at home, but at home it does not stay. It goes abroad, and radiates its blessings according to its strength, to the utmost domicile of [humanity]. But few [men] can extend their charity, in its special currency, beyond their village, their parish, or their church. Still, when the frozen Icelander or the sunburned Moor comes within our sphere of doing good, we will, as we ought, pour into his wounds and bruises the soothing and mollifying ointment of Christian benevolence.
Campbell saw patriotism as a kind of selfishness--and, as a patriot, I might want to argue with that a little bit--but he has a point. Anytime we hold ourselves too close and keep our "sphere of doing good," as he calls it, too small, we are missing Christ's point. God calls us to look beyond our borders and boundaries.
Today's lesson is not primarily one about patriotism, but about burden.
Jesus’ time was filled with burden.
The Roman occupiers financially burdened the people as well.
The poor were burdened with sacrifices they could not afford.
The Pharisees were making sure that no one violated the Sabbath--even at the expense of human life.
And in this mix, Jesus steps up and calls out to all who are burdened, all who have broken down by the demands religion--come to me, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke--but it’s an easy yoke.
Most yokes of that day were designed to pair two animals to work together. Now, I have told you in the past of my reluctance to be compared to a sheep, and while livestock is not my thing, this yoke thing isn’t so bad.
Why? Because, to use the metaphor, If my shoulders are against one side, it’s Jesus on the other. Jesus will bear all of the burden that we give to him.
On this weekend of celebration in freedom, Jesus calls us to real freedom--a freedom not bound by national lines or borders, a freedom not earned but bestowed by the loving grace of God. And it is a freedom which transcends ideology.
I’ve told you before about my trip to Cuba a few years back. We went to study the church, there, as it was thriving despite the heavy hand of the communist government. The faith of those wonderful people showed in every aspect of their lives as they celebrated Jesus Christ and his yoke.
But, I have to tell you, I felt a gnawing something not quite right. It fixed itself when I was back in the U.S. I wanted to shout out Walter Scott’s poem, “this is my own, my native land!”
But God continually reminds us that the call is to take care that our love of country doesn't become nationalism--which is a patriotism that excludes all others. Nationalism can take the good of patriotism and make it a burden that does not ring of freedom.
Yes, God called one nation in ancient times--but called them to be a light unto all the nations--to be a mirror to God’s love so that it would shine on all.
The lessons are continual throughout the scriptures. We are called to color outside the lines, like God does, and remember, as Paul tells us, that our citizenship is in heaven.
Even in the midst of struggle, this is a story of good news. There is healing and wholeness for strangers, and peace for those who welcome them, and an easy yoke for all who respond to the savior’s loving call. What do you think?
Offering Invitation
My yoke is easy and my burden is light. We give, not because we must, but because we may. May we give generously to the kingdom’s cause.
Offertory Prayer
Lord, we commit these gifts to you. We commit them and our lives to your glory and your work. Loving and generous God, we ask that you use these gifts to stretch our hands beyond these walls and into your world. Amen.
Benediction
In the power of the Holy Spirit we now go forth into the world, to fulfill our calling as the people of God, the body of Christ.
Go in peace - love and care for one another in the name of Christ Jesus
- and may the love of God fill you,
- the wisdom of God guide you,
- and the strength of God support you and comfort you, both now and forevermore. Amen
