“A question of response”
By Rev. Michael Stonhouse
Meditation – Sunday, July 9, 2023
Matthew 11:16-19,25-30 (Forward, p. 72) CEV p. 995
One of the wonderful and heart-warming things about Jesus is that He only invites, never browbeats or compels or coerces. He invites us but leaves us fully able to respond in whatever way we see fit.
In today’s passage Jesus uses two images to convey this truth. The first has to do with children’s games, the kind that you’d find in the marketplace or town square or playground. Certain children are inviting other children to come and take part in their games but those other children refuse to take part. By responding with a ‘no’, they lose out on the fun.
In the second instance Jesus uses the image of a yoke, the wooden implement that was fitted to the necks of horses or oxen to enable them to pull a load, whether it was a plow or a wagon. While speaking of a yoke could well imply hard, tedious work and drudgery, Jesus speaks of it in more gentle and humane terms. He says two things about the yoke that He provides. Firstly, it is gentle, non-abrasive and totally conforming to the shoulders of the draft animals. As a carpenter Himself, Jesus knew perfectly well what a difference a well-fitting yoke could make and was quite experienced in creating such a thing. So, in effect, that is what He is promising His followers. Furthermore, as was so often the case, the yoke was a two-animal affair, something that was shared between two horses or oxen. So, in other words, we do not bear the yoke alone. We share it with someone else, who is none other than Jesus. And so it is that when we are weary and heavy burdened that Jesus comes along side us to help us with our load and give us some rest, some release. But, as with the children’s games, there is a catch. We must say ‘yes’ to Jesus’ offer. We must come to Him, let Him fit us with our own particular yokes and let Him share our load. That means that we must ‘let off’ with trying to do it all ourselves, accept that we need help, and let Him help us, as only He can. Thanks be to God for such an incredible offer. I pray that we, each of us, will chose to say ‘yes’, to respond positively to what He has for us.
Forward notes: “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest” (verse 28).
“We live in a time of war, suffering, disease, financial crisis, and division. Life is hard for some and even harder for others. Yet, when we feel overwhelmed by our problems, we can still turn to God and hear this message: Place on me your heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.
“Despite the hardships, there is also great beauty in life. When we draw near to Jesus Christ, read the Word and share it with our sisters and brothers in the faith, we understand the mystery of God’s love. We can always count on God—not only to lift our burdens but also to show us how to help others lift their burdens as well.
“I recently had the opportunity to worship in the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Matanzas, Cuba, with a group that included Cubans and Canadians. We prayed and sang together, and we cried, not because of sadness or pain but because of the peace we felt. Through the Holy Spirit, God established a unique communion with us—and our burdens were lifted.”
Moving Forward: “What is your burde