a word for today
In the Gospel reading for this Sunday, the fourth after Trinity, Jesus says,
‘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.’ (Matthew 11)
How are you today? From this Sunday, places of worship are allowed to re-open for regular services and, as I hope you know, not many are taking that step just yet. But if somehow we were in church this morning – and oh, how good that would be! – then I may well be asking, How are you?
I wouldn’t be surprised if for various reasons some people responded by owning up to not feeling that great.
The lockdown has gone on a long time, hasn’t it? We are tired. Some of you may be worried that you have got so used to it, you wonder how long it will take to re-engage with the big, wide world again.
But we may be anxious about what the so-called ‘new normal’ is going to look like. When I first began to see people wearing masks, I felt a little sad. This wasn’t what I was used to. I wasn’t sure I liked it.
We sit and watch the TV news and we may well feel a deeper sense of dread, when the experts explain how hard the economy will suffer. ‘Build, build, build,’ says the Prime Minister, but we all know it’s not as simple as that.
Then, of course, you may just feel a little guilt, what they call survivor’s guilt, because in many respects you think you will be ok. You won’t need to lay off staff, close your business, or claim unemployment benefit.
Though, hang on a moment! Aren’t we missing the main point here? This is a pandemic. People have died, and are still dying. Thousands of them. But many of us don’t know anyone who has died. For us, the pandemic has meant a lockdown, and we’ve been able to benefit from the slower pace of life.
And so the list goes on. These many weeks without church may have led you to reflect on what you miss and what you don’t miss. What if when we return to church services, we’re not allowed to get close to friends and sing our favourite hymns? What will that be like? Going forward to receive the sacrament with our masks on?
So many questions. So much uncertainty. Surely, we need to pray for our leaders, and those who are trying to put back together the fabric of our lives, whether on the High Street, in our schools, in the churches, and all across our communities.
But, let’s hear again the words of Jesus: ‘Come to me, all you that are weary…’
The first thing to note here is that Jesus recognises that sometimes people are – yes – weary. It’s ok if it’s a tiredness which goes beyond the usual feeling of tiredness. To feel fed up, worn down, confused. It’s part of being human. And Jesus is saying, ‘Come to me… I will give you rest… Learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart.’ What beautiful words.
There’s a risk that it can sound like a cheap cliché to say, Jesus is the answer for everything, but in today’s reading, we are invited to hear, ‘Come to me… Start with me… Don’t forget me.’
If coming out of a pandemic is about rebuilding our lives and reviewing our lives – from Washington and Whitehall to every family home – then Christians will point to Jesus. How he lived, why he died, and the power of his resurrection life, which has been at the heart of the human story for over two millennia.
Whether it’s been wars, revolutions, famines, or plagues, human beings have always asked, Where is God in this? Christians have always said, You won’t get very far unless you listen to the Christ who offers to show us His way and grant rest for our souls.
‘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.’ (Matthew 11)
How are you today? From this Sunday, places of worship are allowed to re-open for regular services and, as I hope you know, not many are taking that step just yet. But if somehow we were in church this morning – and oh, how good that would be! – then I may well be asking, How are you?
I wouldn’t be surprised if for various reasons some people responded by owning up to not feeling that great.
The lockdown has gone on a long time, hasn’t it? We are tired. Some of you may be worried that you have got so used to it, you wonder how long it will take to re-engage with the big, wide world again.
But we may be anxious about what the so-called ‘new normal’ is going to look like. When I first began to see people wearing masks, I felt a little sad. This wasn’t what I was used to. I wasn’t sure I liked it.
We sit and watch the TV news and we may well feel a deeper sense of dread, when the experts explain how hard the economy will suffer. ‘Build, build, build,’ says the Prime Minister, but we all know it’s not as simple as that.
Then, of course, you may just feel a little guilt, what they call survivor’s guilt, because in many respects you think you will be ok. You won’t need to lay off staff, close your business, or claim unemployment benefit.
Though, hang on a moment! Aren’t we missing the main point here? This is a pandemic. People have died, and are still dying. Thousands of them. But many of us don’t know anyone who has died. For us, the pandemic has meant a lockdown, and we’ve been able to benefit from the slower pace of life.
And so the list goes on. These many weeks without church may have led you to reflect on what you miss and what you don’t miss. What if when we return to church services, we’re not allowed to get close to friends and sing our favourite hymns? What will that be like? Going forward to receive the sacrament with our masks on?
So many questions. So much uncertainty. Surely, we need to pray for our leaders, and those who are trying to put back together the fabric of our lives, whether on the High Street, in our schools, in the churches, and all across our communities.
But, let’s hear again the words of Jesus: ‘Come to me, all you that are weary…’
The first thing to note here is that Jesus recognises that sometimes people are – yes – weary. It’s ok if it’s a tiredness which goes beyond the usual feeling of tiredness. To feel fed up, worn down, confused. It’s part of being human. And Jesus is saying, ‘Come to me… I will give you rest… Learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart.’ What beautiful words.
There’s a risk that it can sound like a cheap cliché to say, Jesus is the answer for everything, but in today’s reading, we are invited to hear, ‘Come to me… Start with me… Don’t forget me.’
If coming out of a pandemic is about rebuilding our lives and reviewing our lives – from Washington and Whitehall to every family home – then Christians will point to Jesus. How he lived, why he died, and the power of his resurrection life, which has been at the heart of the human story for over two millennia.
Whether it’s been wars, revolutions, famines, or plagues, human beings have always asked, Where is God in this? Christians have always said, You won’t get very far unless you listen to the Christ who offers to show us His way and grant rest for our souls.
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