Notes from the Month's Theme Sermon

Preached at the Morning Holy Communion, Sunday 6th July 2008

Rest for the weary - MATTHEW 11: 16-19,25-30

If we are honest we all like a good moan on occasions. It sort of makes us feel better to get things of our chests. We are a nation who, whatever the situation - be it the weather: its either too dry, or too hot, or too wet - the fruit and vegetables available in the shops aren't as they should be - the price of petrol is too high - that person's hat or outfit doesn't look right on them - that if we were in control we could do better. Does it ring true? How about we prefer certain traditions our way - or how many times have we heard or said that in 'my day' things were different. It's so easy to slip into criticism and have fixed views about things, instead of being open to new and changing ideas. Let me give you an illustration; How often have you overheard a remark like this? - "Oh no, I don't attend the local church. It's all happy -clappy! I drive out to Nether Dodderington for a proper service with real hymns." Or perhaps it's the opposite -"We don't go to the local church. It's so boring, dreary hymns in old fashion words. We cycle into town, to the Jesus Generation". Both speakers have found a way of worship that suits them, one they are comfortable with. But how much has the local church suffered from their departure? And how much does the local community suffer from the absence of a varied and vibrant church in their midst. In expecting everyone to conform to one style of worship, we may drive people away, inhibit our own faith and even risk creating God in our own image......making God dance to our tune. This illustration and the ones I said at the start of my sermon may make us feel uncomfortable. But it's the truth. We get comfortable and set in our ways and don't like change. Our gospel reading this morning is one of two halves. The first one, verses 16-19 deals exactly with my illustrations, and brings rebuke and anger from Jesus while the other, verses 25-30, offers hope, health and wholeness.
	Jesus uses the image of children singing sad and happy songs in their games. We all know what children are like when they become overtired. They get fractious. Nothing is right for them, they are unreasonable and nothing you can say will persuade them out of a stubborn refusal to see sense! Naturally he's not simply referring to music, but what an excellent example of the way we try to make God *"dance to our tune"!* When Jesus compares them to "this generation" - does he mean all human beings? Some Christians today insist on happy songs and dancing and expect everyone to join in; others want everyone to be solemn and dignified ALL the time. We want God to fit into our comfortable, familiar picture. Jesus knew that some people grumbled - about his own ministry and John the Baptist's. Neither John or Jesus matched the grumblers picture of someone who had truly come from God. John followed a simple lifestyle, without beer or banquets, and people said, "what a dull, unbalanced person. He must be possessed by something odd". Then Jesus came, living a very different life, welcoming friendship and hospitality, and the same people shook their heads; "just look at the company he keeps. What an undisciplined character". Among his listeners, some would be comfortable with the status quo. They made the required temple sacrifices, attended synagogue regularly, kept the commandments. What need then for fasting and repentance? Others saw themselves as superior to those who didn't follow the same rules and regulations. They wouldn't associate with these 'sinners' ---and neither, surely, would the Son of God! Yet here in this passage Jesus does exactly that. He challenges all these comfortable onlookers, thinking themselves so superior, wise and intelligent, so sure they know God, yet none had got it right. Their judgemental and critical attitude blinds them to what really matters - to know God in all His richness and love, through Jesus His son. Jesus is the one who knows God's nature and purpose, because he shares it, and if he choose to reveal the true image of God to "sinners" as well as saints, then so be it.
Jesus tells the onlookers, "Wisdom is proved right by her actions" In other words, the proof of the pudding is in the eating. The cross and the resurrection would reveal that Jesus really had come from God, for here was a God not demanding sacrifice, but making it in Jesus. The Christian message often encounters excuses, from outsiders who resist being drawn in, and from Christians, who are content with a shallow and superficial faith. Only God can really deal with the human heart and help a person to get beyond excuses to commitment; my friends we all need to be honest with God about our attitude, and do a faith check on a regular basis. Here is the other half of our reading. The last one was full of gloom and warning. Now comes warmth and invitation, encouragement and promise. Jesus has attracted opposition and misunderstanding, but he has also found people who want to follow, and he welcomes them into the love and friendship of God. Jesus appears here as a uniquely, important figure, the only person who truly knows God, and the one who brings others to God. He is a truly humble man, he is gentle and offers an easy yoke for his followers. Yet he is also a person of greatness and majesty. Jesus offers relief to tired, troubled and weary people. That's you and me. What does my 'yoke is easy' mean, you may ask? The word in Greek means well-fitting. In Palestine each yoke was hand made to fit the animal it was meant for so that it wouldn't chafe or hurt. Jesus' yoke is one of discipleship and commitment to him. By putting on Christ's yoke we begin to live his way and learn from him, we learn trust, obedience, we receive his forgiveness, know rest for our souls and the joy of love and his grace. In other words his yoke for us will fit perfectly. Sometimes we feel that all the worries of the world are on our shoulders, that we can't take anymore grief or pain. The yoke we carry is too tight, heavy and painful to bare. Perhaps there are some among us who are feeling that way. Jesus offers us hope, rest, and a way to offload those troubles. Let me share with you one of those times. As most of you know I broke my arm very badly while on holiday in New Zealand. It was painful, I felt unwell and didn't travel well afterwards. Obviously we still wanted to visit all the places on our agenda, and eventually came to Dunedin, in the south island. Our hotel was on the Otago peninsular, a stunningly beautiful place, and nearby was a colony of Albatross' which Michael wanted to visit. I was tired, and just felt like a rest. Michael suggested I sit and have my time with God while he went to visit the birds. As I sat on our balcony and looked out at the beauty of God's creation, God spoke quietly "Carole, come to me , and I will give you rest". He knew that I felt emotionally and physically tired, and needed to give him my inner pain. As I sat there he did just that. Graciously and lovingly he dealt with my pain and showed me a side of him I hadn't encountered before - to be in him totally without having to say or do anything. It was a beautiful moment where time seemed to stand still. I indeed found rest for my soul. The yoke that Jesus gives us is one of service, involving commitment, discipline and hard work. But, it is not a hurtful or unnatural yoke. It is lined with mercy. It is shaped by the loving wisdom of God. It fits especially well on the child-like heart. How comfortable are we with our own picture of God? Too comfortable perhaps? In today's gospel, Jesus gives us all an invitation: Come to me. Come as you are - where ever your walk with God is. Bring your failures, your uncertainties, your pain and doubts. Don't take them home with you! In me you can find rest from all that weariness. Come to me He says —— whether you prefer old hymns or new choruses. Come to Jesus and see the variety that God offers in a Jesus who attended synagogue and temple and yet mixed with the so called outcasts, a Jesus who partied and also wept. Who prayed quietly alone yet taught the multitudes. A gentle Jesus who healed the sick and an angry Jesus who denounced the injustice and hypocrisy he saw around him. When we come to communion this morning either to take the bread and wine or for a blessing, Jesus is waiting for us, ready to bring his wholeness and healing, to renew us by his Holy Spirit. Communion is not a stopping place; it's a refreshment station on our journey of discipleship. The yoke of Jesus is for the rhythm and routine of Christian living, one that we can follow without fear and serve without strain. Can we still come to Jesus like a child, receptive and trustful, expecting God to refresh and teach us? Are we ready to be surprised by Gods grace and love? Rather than make God or our fellow Christians dance to our tune, can we open ourselves to whatever God can show us? Could we risk something different? We must not restrict God my friends. Jesus revealed the immense variety of the God who both comforts and challenges, and he invites all people to share in that variety. Are we ready? Are we willing? I am, lets go forward together. Amen.

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