Proper 9

Preparation

Please begin by reading Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30 in your Bible. If you do not have one at hand, we have provided the text for you at the end of this reflection.

Reflection--How to Not Miss the Boat

God is always active in human history, but when it comes to seeing clearly what God is up to in our world, we humans seem to have a knack for not only missing the boat, but not even being able to find the pier! Part of our problem, perhaps arising out of our essential human nature, is that we tend to forget that God is radically free and is not at all obligated to live up to our preconceived ideas of what God ought to be up to and how God ought to be going about doing things.

In this week's gospel lesson, Jesus begins by comparing most people to children who can never be satisfied. John the Baptist came as a somber and stern prophet who lived an isolated life of self denial. People said that he "had a demon." Jesus had an opposite "lifestyle." He came in openness as one "gentle and humble in heart," one who shared bread and wine and his presence with everyone regardless of their station in life. People rejected him as a glutton, a drunkard, and a friend of "sinners."

Ironically, while Jesus begins by comparing humankind to children in a negative way, he goes on to say that it is "infants" who are most likely to finally "get it." Part of the reason that we sometime miss the boat is that we try too hard and in the wrong way. We are most likely to "get it" when we come like children without a lot of preconceptions and leave ourselves open, in wonder, to finding what God is doing everywhere in the most unexpected corners, in the lives of the most unlikely people, in the most unexpected ways.

Seeing the big picture is much more often a matter of God's grace than our struggles to reason it all out. It is a matter of letting go. We all carry a burden of some kind (symbolized here by a yoke) with us through life. The question that we have to answer is whose yoke will we carry? Will we cling to our own self-made, ill-fitting yoke of preconceptions made out of our human need to always be in control that is such a huge drain on spiritual energy?

We fight and struggle and kick trying to find the will and presence of God, while Jesus keeps saying, "no, my child. Relax. Just let go and trust me." The yoke that Jesus offers is light, for it is offered by One gentle and humble in heart. It is a perfect fit, for it is made by One who knows us even to the number of hairs on our heads.

It is amazing how we resist accepting the very best gift; taking on Jesus' "yoke" and learning to live life fully. Accepting our own limitations, welcoming Jesus' gentle authority, and finally surrendering to a life of discipleship is where we finally find rest for our souls.

revclay

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Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30

[Jesus said:] “But to what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to one another, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we wailed, and you did not mourn.’ For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon,’ the 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.”

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At 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; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All 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.

“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.”

[NRSV]