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The 7th Sunday after Pentecost
(A) In the Name of him who gives rest for our souls, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. There is a wonderful legend that before Jesus began his ministry of teaching and healing, he was a carpenter who made the best ox-yokes in all of Galilee. People would come from miles around for a yoke, hand carved and crafted by Jesus, son of Joseph. According to the legend, when customers arrived with their team of oxen Jesus would spend considerable time measuring the team, their height, the width, the space between them, and the size of their shoulders. Within a week, the team would be brought back and Jesus would carefully place the newly made yoke over the shoulders, watching for rough places, smoothing out the edges, and fitting them perfectly to that particular team of oxen. Perhaps Jesus had this image in mind when he invited people in today’s gospel to “take his yoke upon them and learn from him – because his yoke was easy and his burden was light.” The word translated as “easy” is the Greek word chrestos, which actually means “well fitting”. The Jewish rabbis of Jesus’ time often referred to the “yoke” of the Law as being something we should wear, but a life with God based upon trying to obey all of the Law’s requirements often became not something that was helpful, but a burden that chafed people’s spirits. Jesus, on the other hand, was inviting people to know God through the “yoke” of his teaching and friendship – a “yoke” that would not burden and chafe them, but would rather “fit them well” – a “yoke” that he would wear with them as the other member of the team. On this Independence Day weekend, we Americans celebrate our freedom. We especially remember the signing of the Declaration of Independence, which affirms our inalienable rights to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” But freedom and independence are not necessarily always good things. In fact, the very freedoms that we may think we want may become burdens that enslave us. This is especially true when it comes to “pursuing happiness”. In our contemporary American culture, many people try to “pursue happiness” through consumerism. Daily through print media and TV, we are constantly bombarded with ads that try to convince us that our lives will be happier and better off if we buy their product. Far from being “free”, we instead become slaves to consumerism – to a way of thinking that will never completely satisfy. Trying to achieve happiness through consumerism is like trying to slack our thirst by drinking seawater – it will only make things worse. The same thing is true when people try to achieve happiness through pursuing “success” in life – through seeking to have more wealth, or striving to have more status and power, or through striving to become the best (or at least better than someone else) in sports, and in many other things as well. So many people commit endless hours to trying to be “successful” in a certain area that they feel is important – perhaps more important to them than anything else. But the very “freedom” to pursue “happiness” in these areas almost always becomes a burden – because it never fully satisfies. There is always a desire to have more. Trying to achieve happiness through consumerism or “success” is like a hamster constantly running around in its wheel, but never really going anywhere. Jesus in today’s gospel, however, offers us another way to have “happiness” in life – a happiness that will give us joy, peace, and sense of fulfillment within that will never leave us. The happiness that Jesus offers does not come about through freedom to “pursue it”, but by taking his yoke upon us. Listen again to what Jesus says to us in today’s gospel, but this time as translated in “The Message” by Eugene Peterson. Jesus says: “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.” What are YOU weary from in life? What burdens you? Is it “religion” with an endless list of rules and expectations that you have to follow in order to get to heaven? (That’s what it was for many of Jesus’ original listeners in today’s gospel, and also later for St. Paul, Martin Luther, and countless other people down through the centuries as well.) Or is it pursuing happiness through consumerism or always striving for “success” that wearies you and stresses you and burdens you? Jesus offers us another way to live our lives – through taking the yoke of his teachings upon us and then walking and working with him day by day. To know and experience his love for us – even when we may not have much or be “successful” in this world. As The Message puts it; this means to “learn the unforced rhythms of grace.” In a life with Jesus, we may not be “free” to do whatever we please. But we do experience the freedom of knowing that we are always loved, come what may. A life with Jesus is a “yoke” that indeed “fits well”, because with him we are free from guilt, free from stress, and free from despair. With Jesus we can live each day knowing that we have all that we need and that God will take care of us. Walking and working with Jesus each day – and abiding in his love – gives us true freedom that nothing can ever take away from us. And knowing this is what gives rest for our souls. Through wearing the yoke of Jesus, we are free. We are free indeed! Thanks be to God! Amen! -------------------- George R. Karres, Pella Lutheran Church 418 W. Main Street Sidney, MT 59270
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