Rest

"Rest"
a condensed version of the sermon delivered by Rev. Kirk Moore on Sunday, July 6, 2008 at Union Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, in Somonauk, Illinois.

PODCAST of "Rest"

This Morning's Scripture reading is:
Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30

Fireworks! Did anyone see fireworks a couple of nights ago?

Fireworks are REALLY LOUD

So . . . this morning’s sermon is going to be REALLY LOUD

OK – only those parts (and this next really short part that is the same as the other two) are going to be REALLY LOUD – except for this part that is also REALLY LOUD. But I’ll hold off on any more REALLY LOUD parts, OK?

Fireworks are awe-inspiring.

And of course, this morning’s sermon is going to be awe-inspiring. Of course – it may be in the "WOW!" way or the "Awe – how cute" way or possibly, but hopefully not in the "Awww – poor guy really preached a stinker" way.

Fireworks let you experience each single burst as it’s own event – but you also remember the whole demonstration as one wonderful and moving experience.

And this morning’s sermon – looking more closely at today’s Bible reading from Matthew 11:16-19 and 25-30, is going to be one where we look at each section as a single burst of something important . . . and hopefully we’ll remember the whole thing as a wonderful and moving experience.

Part 1:

"But to what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to one another, 'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we wailed, and you did not mourn.'

Jesus compared the generation of people to children who keep asking for the grown-ups to play with them or to participate in their activities and events. We probably don’t see anything particularly wrong about children wanting grownups to notice them and to play with them. In Jesus’ day children weren’t looked upon as something particularly valuable – they were more of a chore until they could carry their own weight in society. I guess a good equivalent today would be Jesus comparing (our?) generation to a bunch of whiney kids who always want to be the center of attention. We want God to do what we want instead of looking for what God wants.

Part 2:

For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon'; the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds."

Do you remember the Patty Duke show? The theme song runs through my head occasionally. Do you remember this?

Meet Cathy, who's lived most everywhere,
From Zanzibar to Barclay Square.
But Patty's only seen the sights
A girl can see from Brooklyn Heights --
What a crazy pair!
But they're cousins,
Identical cousins all the way.
One pair of matching bookends,
Different as night and day.

Why mention those cousins today? Well, according to Luke 1:36, Mary and Elizabeth (John the Baptist’s mother) were relatives (the King James Version calls them cousins) – making Jesus and John the Baptist relatives who may even have been second cousins.

I don’t think they looked identical to each other – but this part of this week’s reading shows that though they were related and integral parts of our faith story, they were different as night and day.

John stayed away from, well, just about anything that might be considered fun. Jesus on the other hand, spent time eating and drinking and having fun. The folks of Jesus time couldn’t get that both were God’s servants – they had unkind words for both.

I think that this little part reinforces the idea that there is room in God’s neighborhood for very different kinds of people with very different ways of doing things. There’s room for different opinions and even different political preferences! The games of "attack anyone with a different opinion than yours" run contrary to this idea that there is diversity in God’s neighborhood.

Part 3:

At that time Jesus said, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.

Ahh – those of us who think we have all the answers are missing out of the best – most important things. And the best, most important things are known by the ones we would never expect have the capacity to understand them. But what God reveals is known and understood.

I think this little burst of Bible knowledge reminds us that no matter ho much we think we know – there is much more that we don’t know – and also that we can and should learn from sources we’re more likely to ignore. I think it gives us encouragement to be open to learning what God has to teach us our whole lives.

Part 4:

All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

Ready to learn from the most unlikely sources and to learn for the rest of your life? There are things we’ll never know – the things that only God knows. I wonder what those things are? I wonder if we’ll ever get a glimpse – or if we already have? There’s something to love about God’s mystery – knowing that we don’t know – but also knowing that whatever we know or think we know . . . there is so much more. And even when our learning and our lives are at and end, there is still much more.

Part 5:

"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."

Words of invitation from Jesus – in a general and a specific sense

Specifically: Jesus was inviting disciples who wished to, or who had already had begun studying, with a rabbi, to take his yoke – the yoke of a teacher and a student. This teacher is gentle and offers rest – this teacher will carry the brunt of the weight while the disciple learns – not by pulling all the weight alone or even equally with the teacher, but instead by being guided and taught.

Generally: Jesus words echo to us today as rest for the weary. They resonate with any who are weary, overburdened, wiped out with all of life’s stresses. The word’s don’t promise a burden-free journey, but rather that our journey with Jesus will be one that offers rest for our souls. Our journey with Jesus isn’t without responsibility, but it is one where we can trust that Jesus is carrying the load.

What are burdens we are carrying. What burdens do we have with us today – right here in the pews? What kind of rest do we think we need from Jesus? What kind of rest will Jesus provide? Good questions to ponder . . .

SO:

We want God to do what we want instead of looking for what God wants.
There is room in God’s neighborhood for very different kinds of people with very different ways of doing things.
No matter ho much we think we know – there is much more that we don’t know – and also that we can and should learn from sources we’re more likely to ignore.
There’s something to love about God’s mystery – knowing that we don’t know – but also knowing that whatever we know or think we know . . . there is so much more. And even when our learning and our lives are at and end, there is still much more.

and

Our journey with Jesus isn’t without responsibility, but it is one where there is rest for our souls and one where we can trust that Jesus is carrying the load.

Great little bursts of learning as we continue on our faith journey – continuing to love God and to love everyone. We can trust in Jesus’ promise: "Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.

Close with prayer.