Lectionary 14 A
Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30
Some of you may have seen the joke that circulated this week on e-mail that tries to explain why Moses and the Israelites wandered in the wilderness for forty years. The punch line of the e-mail read, “Even then, men would not stop for directions.”
While this may not really explain the real reason why the Israelites wandered in the wilderness, I think there is some truth to this e-mail. After all the pressure of public opinion can be overpowering. And many of us have at one time or another spent time worrying how other people might see us. Instead of stopping and asking for directions and having to admit that we are uncertain or confused, we push on, and hope no one notices how lost we really are.
Our fear of being ridiculed is greater than our fear of being wrong. As a society we have become convinced that as long as we have the approval of others, it does not really matter how far off course we are.
One of the best illustrations of this is the story about an Old Man and his Son who were walking home from town one day with their donkey.
As they made their way home, their neighbors began to laugh at them and asked themselves, ‘Why are both of them walking? One of them should be riding the donkey.” After much ridicule the man placed his son on the donkey and they continued on their way.
But soon their neighbors began to criticize them again saying, “Look at that! The boy is making that poor old man walk while he rides the donkey! Why doesn’t the boy get off that donkey and let the old man ride for awhile?”
Hearing this, the boy dismounted, and the old man got on the donkey. But before long the neighbors again began to criticize them and wondered out loud, “Why is that man riding the donkey and making that helpless boy walk? What kind of man is he?”
Hearing this, the father reached down and picked up his son and they both rode the donkey and continued their way home. But the neighbors again complained and said to one another, “Look at that poor donkey, having to carry two people on it back! Why don’t they give that poor animal a break and get off of it before the animal gets hurt.”
In desperation the father and son did the only thing left for them to do. They picked up the donkey and carried it on their backs the rest of the way home.
In today’s gospel the crowd that gathered around Jesus behaved just like these neighbors. Jesus tells the people that they are behaving like spoiled children in the market place. They complain because the people around them will not dance when they play their flutes, and that they will not cry when they sing sad songs.
Which is why Jesus said to the crowd: “To what will I compare this generation?”
You know, I find it interesting that self-centered people who think that the world revolves around them is not a new development. These types of people were around even in the time of Jesus. And it is not only just children that act this way. Adults do as well.
In our text today Jesus points out that the people had criticized John the Baptist because he fasted and would not drink alcohol. Now they criticized Him because (as he put it) “The Son of Man came eating and drinking” and the crowds grumbled; “Look, a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and sinners!”
You just can’t win; Jesus seems to be saying when you look to society for acceptance and approval. And you people, you are behaving just like children because you are always complaining that I don’t quite match your expectations.
And then Jesus did an amazing thing. Jesus commended those with a child-like grasp of his message saying; “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.”
Just as people in Biblical times were worn out from all the social and religious rules and expectations, we too carry a heavy burden of trying to earn social approval. Throughout our lives we bear the burden of trying to live up to what other people tell us we have to be in order to be fit in.
Sometimes this can take on almost demonic proportions. Look at the advertisements that assault us everyday. Eat this breakfast cereal, drive this make of pickup truck, use this deodorant, or wear this brand of clothing. There is no one here this morning who is free from the power of these ads or from the power of peer pressure to influence our actions.
And that is why the words that Jesus speaks in our reading today is very inviting. Listen to them again: “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.”
When Jesus promises us rest, Jesus is offering an alternative to all the “social rules:” and “public opinions” as the basis for our lives. Jesus is informing us that there is an alternative to all of these false truths and offers us another way.
Jesus wants to teach us about His way to salvation. Jesus wants us to take our focus off what others think and put our focus on Christ. Jesus wants us to exchange our yoke of sin and trespasses for Christ’s yoke.
Did you know that when we put on Christ’s yoke, we find that there is no plow that we need to pull? Why, because the field has already been plowed. There is nothing left for us to do because Christ has already pulled the yoke to the cross of Calvary and to His death there. Christ has already pulled the full load over the entire field.
The Words Jesus spoke today in our Gospel text are different from any that have ever been spoken before. Instead of giving the people more rules and expectations, Jesus narrowed them down.
Instead of scolding the people for falling short, Jesus bent down to their level and raised them up. Instead of telling them how angry God was with them, Jesus spoke of incredible love and forgiveness. Instead of blaming them for failing in life, Jesus offered them an alternative to seeing themselves as victims.
The Gospel message today does deliver us from the yoke of impossible worldly expectations and gives us the “Good News” that God loves us just the way we are when we are yoked to His death and resurrection. And that is why we all should rejoice when we hear Jesus say “Come to me and I will give you rest.”
Let us pray: O Lord our God, you are always more ready to bestow your good gifts upon us than we are to seek them. You are more willing to give than we desire or deserve. Help us so to seek that we may truly find; so to ask that we may joyfully receive, so to knock that the door of mercy may be opened for us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
