SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

 Sermon preached by Rebecca Taylor

(Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67; Psalm 45: 11-18; Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30)

“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens…” (Mt 11:28)

I have to admit: in preparing to preach this morning, I was drawn to the passage from Genesis, the story of Rebekah’s marriage to Isaac.  She and I share the same name: Rebecca.  And, 51 years ago today, I married my husband.  What a lovely coincidence that our two stories should coincide on this day!

But with all due respect to Rebekah and Isaac, this morning I want to invite us to consider the reading from Matthew’s gospel. I think Jesus has something important to say to us here at St. Philip’s on this, our first Sunday following Father Michael’s departure.

For the past three weeks, we have been making our way through chapter 10 of Matthew’s gospel.  Biblical scholars call this chapter Jesus’ “missionary discourse.” The chapter begins with Jesus’ decision to enlist the help of his 12 disciples.  There’s a lot of work to do, and he cannot do it on his own.  So, he gives the Twelve the authority to represent him out in the mission field.  “Go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel,” he tells them.  “Proclaim the good news that the kingdom of heaven has come near.”  He tells them to cure those who are sick, raise those who have died, cleanse lepers, and cast out demons.  “I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves,” he warns them, but “do not be afraid.”

Representing Jesus in all the places where human need and suffering exists is not easy, but (as we heard last week) the lovely gift of hospitality will be offered along the way.

The missionary discourse ends with this sentence: “Now when Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went from there to teach and proclaim his message to their cities.” In other words, he got back to work.

From his prison cell, John the Baptizer gets news about what Jesus and his followers are doing.  He sends a few of his disciples to Jesus with this question, “Are you the one – the Messiah – who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” And Jesus tells them to go and tell John what they themselves have witnessed: that “the blind receive sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them.”

In Chapter 11 of Matthew’s gospel (where we find ourselves today), Jesus decides to talk to the crowd around him about John’s prophetic ministry and the injustice of John’s imprisonment. “Truly I tell you,” he says, “no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist.”  And he tells them that, like all the prophets before him, the forces darkness are doing their best to silence John.

And this is where today’s reading begins.

Despite the fact that there is really, really good news about the loving and just reign of God, Jesus recognizes that many are not ready to hear it.  Some are like petulant children.  Others criticize the messengers who bring this good news.  As I listen to Jesus speak, I wonder if there was some frustration in his voice. Maybe.

He brings what he is seeing and feeling in that moment to God, starting his prayer with four simple words: “I thank you, Father.”

And then he turns to the crowd and he speaks tenderly: “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.”

This past spring, Steve and I took our family out for a pancake breakfast at Steve’s Sugar Shack in Westhampton.  The maple trees on the property were tapped and the sap was running.  And inside the sugar shack, delicious maple syrup was being produced. The place was hopping on a Saturday morning!

As we waited outside for a table to open up, we noticed a man standing off to one side of the parking lot.  He had with him two oxen yoked together, so we walked up to him and asked him why he and his animals were there.

“Rocky and Ranger have been hauling barrels of sap out of the woods all week,” he told us.  “Go ahead and pat them.  They won’t hurt you.”

And so we did.  He explained how these two animals are trained to respond to five simple commands when they are working: "Gee" and "Haw" (turn right or left), "Get up" (move forward), "Back" (reverse), and "Whoa" (stop).

I’ve since learned that an effective team of yoked oxen relies on three things: (1) a custom-fitted yoke, (2) an experienced ox, and (3) a receptive ox.  A well-built yoke reduces the chance of injuries to the animals. It accounts for their size and keeps them comfortably near one another.  When yoked together, team can haul three times their combined body weight.  The pair usually includes one animal who knows what it’s doing, and another who is there to learn.  Over time, the inexperienced animal learns to follow the experienced one, and also learns to listen to the human who walks with them, directing the effort.

Hopefully this information about being yoked together helps you – as it has helped me – to appreciate more deeply Jesus’ invitation to be yoked to him.  “Come to me,” he tells us this morning. “Learn from me.” “You are carrying heavy burdens.”  “Let me help you carry them.”

We find ourselves at the beginning of a new chapter in the life of this parish, an important transitional time.  Our beloved priest and pastor has left.  We are all grieving that loss, and looking into an unknown future.  Our new bridge pastor arrives next week and will be with us for the next 3 months.  We will have to get to know him, and he, us.  What will that new relationship be like?

If you are a member of the vestry, you may be feeling burdened by the responsibility of managing the wide array of ministries taking place in and from this church.

If you are a member of the Profile Committee, you are facing the burden of writing a story about St. Philip’s that will compel a new priest to want to be with us.

If you are a member of the Search Committee, you are facing the burden of not knowing how long it will take for a clergy person to apply for the job, or whether that person will be well-suited for it.

As a member of this church, you may be carrying the burden of not knowing how this time of transition will unfold.  You may be wondering should you stay? Should you leave? Do you trust this place enough to stay connected, to keep coming each week?

Here is the message from our Lord this morning: “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.”

Christ is coming up alongside us in this time of uncertainty, and waiting, and change.  Joined with him in the love he offers, we will find our way to our next priest, and that person to us.  I truly, truly believe that.

Jesus’ love flows to us in the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, the wonderful gift of himself to us.

His love flows through us as we take care of one another, as we take care of the church he has established in this place, and as we take care of the people out there who need to hear the good news that the kingdom of heaven has come near.

Jesus is with us for the long haul ahead.  The yoke he offers is the faith and trust he has in God’s transformational love.  In the months ahead, we will need to listen carefully, with hearts wide open, to hear God’s tender directions to us: “Go head.” “Slow down.” “Turn in a new direction.” Maybe even, “Reverse course” for a bit, or “Stop and rest.”

My message this morning to you, and to myself, is this: Trust that we have the gifts of Christ’s companionship, God’s loving guidance, and, yes, rest for our souls in the weeks and months ahead.

By the grace of God, Jesus is right here with us for the long haul ahead.

And for that let us offer thanks and praise.  Amen.