Sermon: July 9, 2023
Reading: Matthew 11:16–30
Our scripture passage began with Jesus saying, “To what shall I compare this generation?” and then compares them to demanding, fussy children who want God to dance to their tune.
How would Jesus compare our generation? Would it be much the same? Are we the children who want God to dance to our tune and expectations? Are we the so called wise and intelligent who rely on our own version of righteousness, judging others who may not fit into our sense of proper behavior, right and wrong, judging who’s in and who’s out, who is helped first and who gets the scraps or anything at all?
Jesus' comparison isn’t meant to be derogatory or make someone feel guilty about themselves. It is intended as a wake-up call for repentance. It’s meant for us to examine our lives and see where we may have already determined what God has to say and are not listening for what God is truly saying.
Jesus wants us to approach God with the innocence of an infant with an open heart and mind. Imagine if humanity approached God’s love humbly with the innocence of a child, with innocent eyes that have yet to be biased or tainted with prejudice, with eyes that don’t look upon their neighbors with preconceived notions or expectations and judgment. Because it’s with those eyes, we see the gracious will of our heavenly Father. It’s with those eyes that we can see the light of Christ that lives in all people.
Imagine how the world would be if we all took up Jesus’ yoke and learned from him. Jesus says, “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.” The yoke Jesus offers to all people is to live a life as his disciples under his teaching. Jesus is gentle, loving, forgiving, and humble. He offers us the same yoke he assumed of loving God and loving God’s children the same way God does.
Jesus calls to us to live a life of humble service to God and one another, and it is a life of freedom and joy. He offers us a way to release the burdens of the world; the negativity, fear, and hate – we can choose to set down those soul crushing burdens by living our lives according to his love, by taking up his yoke. Living a life yoked to Jesus under God’s gracious and merciful reign is a life free from the burdens that our generation wishes to place on us. May we all choose to be as wise as an infant and humbly approach God with an open heart and mind taking up the yoke Jesus offers us and releasing our burdens, allowing us to rest deeply and securely in God’s loving embrace.
