For Sunday, July
5, 2020, Readings: Genesis
24:4-8, 42-49, 58-67; Psalm 45:11-18, Romans 7:15-25a, Matt 11:16-19, 25-30
I do not understand my own
actions. For I do not do what I want, but the very thing I hate...For I do
not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do...Who will
rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God though Jesus Christ our Lord! [Romans 7:15, 19,24b-25]
Jesus said to the crowd,
"To what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in
the marketplaces and calling to one another...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...Come to me,
all of 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 bind rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is
light." [Matthew 11: 16, 18-19,
28-30]
The appointed lectionary this week, for me, is a
rare moment of disconnection between the Hebrew Testament and the Christian
Testament. The reading from Genesis is setting up the background for the
narrative to come and the Psalm supports it so I will put it aside for that
stage to be set. But it is this self-revealing angst of Paul that always
speaks to me, as well as the stark reality of all that happens now has been
happening all along.
We all succumb to the us vs them mind game more often
than we are willing to admit to ourselves. It may be hidden in a desire
for a sense of personal superiority or of belonging to the correct group. There
can be an almost addicting need for a sense of acceptance within a given
community ~ if you are not one of or with us in all we think,
say, or do, then you are one of or with them, painting with the
broad brush of no exceptions. Further, if you are one of them you can't be
one of us ~ THEM have demons, are gluttons and drunkards. THEM are and
associate with all who are unacceptable to US.
It is so easy, familiar, and
self-comforting to get caught up in the want of knowing unequivocally who is
right and who is wrong. That has never been more crystal clear than right here
and right now. Paul brings our humanity front and center - deep down I know I
don't want to say or do some of the things I say or do but I do the
very thing I hate. When I catch myself, I resolve to be better and
improve my reactions and responses in everyday living. Then, unaware, I fall
back into the “I'm better than fill in name of person or group” mode
and act accordingly, whereupon - eventually - I realize, I have failed, again,
to be who and what I want to be.
Jesus offers us His easy yoke, to guide us and teach us. The burden
is light, he says, but the pull back to the familiar behaviors ~ even
those we don't want ~ is quick and often unconscious. They are easier than making
conscious changes, and, taking on the very real risk of being ostracized from
our “us” as one of "them."
In the language of addiction treatment,
we are sinners in recovery. The tendency to fall back is always strongest at
the start of healing. But the farther we move ahead of it, the easier to
resist, especially in a learning, supportive community of those who acknowledge
their sins and strive to overcome them; and when a fall occurs, the easy yoke
of Christ will carry us together.
There is a yoke on each of us and each come with a clear choice. One
binds us to the sins great and small that we know are within us, that bruise
and chafe our hearts and damage our souls. The other is the Yoke of Christ, not
free of pain or trials or even fear, but the loads and burdens of this short
life - much of it self-inflicted - are lightened, less wearisome, healing, and
hopeful. We are always one in, of, and with Him. With His yoke, we are a team doing His work in His field, together.
LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE,
PRAY
Leader: ~ Gentle
Jesus, Humble in Heart, awaken us to our self-imposed bindings of our familiar
sins that distract us from hearing and acting upon Your truth. Rescue our
hearts to recover our eagerness to accept Your easy yoke of learning and
redemption.
O Christ, our
Savior
RESPONSE:
Rest our souls in You
~ Gentle Jesus, Humble in
Heart, burden and enflame the souls of the leaders of our World, our Nation, and
our Community with a heavy yoke of desire to turn to the good they are capable
of doing, gather the strength to avoid the evils of power, and the vision to
see into the eyes and hearts of those for whom they legislate, as well those
they know and love. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
O
Christ, our Savior
Rest
our souls in You
~ Gentle
Jesus, Humble in Heart, soothe the pain and suffering of those depleted by
disease, injury, or depression, and comfort those who give them care. We now
join our hearts together to pray for those in need…
O
Christ, our Savior
Rest
our souls in You
~ Gentle
Jesus, Humble in Heart, we commend with our love all who have been released from
this life into the gracious and glorious reception of everlasting life with
You. We pray especially for…
O
Christ, our Savior
Rest
our souls in You
~ Gentle Jesus, Humble in
Heart, we
pause in this moment to offer You our
other heartfelt thanksgivings, intercessions, petitions, and memorials…
O
Christ, our Savior
Rest
our souls in You
~ Gentle Jesus, Humble in Heart, for all who lead us in Your
Church as a visible sign of Your Yoke, we ask continuing revival of spirit and
replenishment of joy in life and ministry. Let us be mutual companions on this
journey of our souls, caring and carrying in turn. We pray
especially for:add your own petitions
O
Christ, our Savior
Rest
our souls in You
The Celebrant adds: O God
of our souls and our humanity, help us to come as children to listen and learn,
to hear and grow. Fill us with the desire to recognize and repent of our sins
great and small, and to be held captive only by Your love and grace. We ask
this through our Most Holy Jesus, and Your Glorious Holy Spirit, who live and
reign with You, as One God forever and ever. Amen.
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