Lectionary 14 Proper 9, Year A July 5, 2020
Grace Lutheran Church Lakeland, FL
Genesis 24 Song of Sol 2 Romans 7:14-25a Matthew 11:25-30
Haven’t we all had those times where we “know” that what we are thinking about is something we shouldn’t do – or conversely, those times when we “know” that we should do something – and then we do the opposite of what we “know.” I see the heads nodding. I think of the child eyeing the plate of fresh-baked cookies on the counter while the parent is in the other room. Mouth-watering. Hand reaching and then pulled back. They look soooo good. Dad said, “Not until after dinner.” But oh, I want them!
Yes, it is a common experience in this life that we share. And we are in good company – the Apostle Paul wrote candidly about his experience that we heard in today’s Epistle reading. The text for today’s meditation is from our Epistle reading in Romans 7 – verses 24 and 25a:
Wretched one that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!
Last week we talked about how it is that God has drawn us into covenantal relationship with him through the waters of our baptisms. And we delight in the fact that Jesus is always with us – even to the end of the age. We receive the promise that we are alive to God in Christ Jesus and called then to love and serve our neighbor as Jesus modeled for us. This is a life of abundance as Jesus promised. And so we might wonder how it is that sometimes what we do (or don’t do) doesn’t line up with what we know we should do (or not do.) St. Paul teaches us about this in today’s reading. We live in what has been called the time of “Already and Not Yet” – and that is what Paul is writing about here. Every single thing necessary for salvation and redemption has been accomplished in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. And, in our baptisms, that redemption is made ours. Already. And, in our life together as the Body of Christ we grow in faithfulness. That word “grow” speaks to the “Not Yet” part of that phrase.
We live in that in-between time – that time when we are no longer servants or slaves of sin and that time when our redemption while completed is not yet fully realized. And it is in this in-between time that we experience this “war” as Paul calls it. That war is waged because of one of God’s many gifts to us – our conscience. Just like the child facing the plate of cookies. It is this gift that reminds us of the knowledge of what we really want to do, of what we really should do.
This gift of conscience is the result of God’s gift to God’s people of the Law. Because we are no longer servants of sin, and because of God’s grace freely poured out for us, the Law no longer accuses us and condemns us. Rather, the Law shows us our need of a Savior so that we can return once again to Jesus.
Jesus. Jesus who taught the scribes in the Temple when he was but 12 years old. Jesus who “knew” the Law inside and out. Jesus who wouldn’t be tripped up by the traps and tests of the Pharisees. Jesus who invites us to a different way in today’s gospel reading.
Often in Scripture the word “yoke” is a substitute for “law” or “rule”. And the Law is such a yoke that weighs us down, tugs at us, keeps us in the straight and narrow. But we have been freed from the dominion of that yoke. Instead Jesus invites us to come to him.
This invitation is given to those who are tired and carrying heavy burdens. The burden of worry, the burden of sadness. The burden of guilt. The burden of perfectionism. The burden of failure. And, in his presence, with him, he gives us rest. Can you feel that relaxation and calm course through your body? And when we have rested, he tells us to take his yoke upon us. And he then calls us to learn from him. And he gives us his credentials for teaching us – he is gentle and humble in heart and in this we find the deepest possible rest.
The law that the Pharisees taught, the law that some even today proclaim, is demanding, exacting and impossible to satisfy. And it leads to distress, worry, and accusation.
But, the yoke that Jesus invites us to wear is one that he describes as “easy” and the load of that yoke he says is “light.” And even more than that, we don’t wear that yoke and bear that burden individually. The yoke of Jesus is made for more than one.
Jesus carries it with us – he didn’t say, “come and take the yoke that I have specially designed for you.” No, he said, “join into the work I do.” And this work is seldom done in isolation.
Yes, in our lives we have worries, wonderings, mistakes, missteps; we have times of great joy and times of sorrow and distress. With Paul we cry out, “Wretched one that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?”
With Paul, we proclaim, “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!”
My friends, the last verses of our Gospel reading today have been a favorite of mine for many years. I find the invitation of Jesus compelling and engaging. And because you are part of this community of faith, I think you do as well.
Let me share with you a paraphrase of these verses from The Message Bible:
"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."
In these days of the coronavirus, we may be tired and worn out. We may wonder where God is in the midst of all of this. We may find that we need rest. This is what Jesus offers us.
Thanks be to God.
