July 6, 2008

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Eighth Sunday after Pentecost  

Please read

Matthew 11:16-19

Matthew 11:25-30

Read also

Genesis 24:34-38

Genesis 24:42-49

Genesis 24:58-67
Psalm 45:10-17
Romans 7:15-25a
Read also the verses omitted from the Gospel Lesson

Matthew 11:20-24

"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…."

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."

.44th of July Thoughts on Who We Are…. .

So much depends on social expectations.

Caught as we are

in the childish game of peer-pressure,

we yield to cultural constraints.

We dance to society’s tune,

and, mired in the mushy middle,

we lash out in condemnation

of those who don’t precisely

measure to our demands. 

We scorn the wisdom

(distorted though it may be)

of those at the edges of our experience,

branding them:

“Fanatic”

“Radical”

“Reactionary”

“Communist”

“Fascist”

or, worst of all,

“Liberal”

“Conservative”

And in the process

We refuse to see truth in the excess,

whether from left or right,

a Hagee or a Wright.

We turn to the Gospel for guidance,

only to find a chunk sliced from the heart

because the words are troubling.*

"Woe to you, Korazin!

Woe to you, Bethsaida!

And you, Capernaum,

will you be lifted up to the skies?

No, you will go down to the depths…”

We turn away,

fearing if we read too deeply

we may discover

the names of our own place and time.

Instead we pursue our mindless dance,

And our baseless accusations,

and a flag pin on the lapel

becomes the measure of our heart.

Weary as we are

with the worries of this world.

Burdened as we are

with four dollar gas

and rogue states,

and a declining dollar

and a health care system

sicker than we are,

we turn again

seeking some solace,

and find it in the words of One,

who, out of  the past

and into our present

speaks words of hope .

"Come to me,

all you that are weary

and are carrying heavy burdens,

and I will give you rest.” 

And so we take his yoke,

and find it easy

We cast our burden on him,

and find our rest.

---rvc

*Matt 11:20-24