A Word from Pastor Lisa: Lightening the Load

“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.”

—Jesus in Matthew 11:28-30 (NRSV)

If you want to experience carefree joy, spend a few moments watching children or dogs play in the leaves this time of year. You can hear the crunching sound underneath their feet as they giggle or play bark. They explore with all their senses, sticking their heads underneath and smelling the earthy scent. They plow right through the piles you’ve made without a thought. They toss colorful leaves in the air with reckless abandon. They are completely present in the moment, not worried about the past or anxious for the future.

They’re a model for us these days. The pandemic, political scene, the economy, and the other cares we shoulder are completely overwhelming. We’re consumed with worry about our families, our country, our health, or our bank accounts. Even more of us are overcome by significant mental health issues. More than 4 in 10 adults report suffering from mental health issues stemming from the pandemic, including anxiety, depression, increased substance abuse, and suicidal thoughts. These are difficult times.

In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus is speaking to a weary crowd. It’s stressful and scary to be one of his disciples. John the Baptist is in prison. Jesus has harsh words to say to unrepentant cities. Then he has these comforting words for those who are laboring under harsh religious and political systems: “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”

The word here used for “rest” also means Sabbath rest, the rest of death, or the rest of peace (no longer at war). Rest is also an image of salvation, of what the world will be when it’s ordered according to God’s purposes. All of creation will enjoy Sabbath when the reign of Christ is here on earth as it is in heaven, writes NT scholar Elisabeth Johnson in Working Preacher.

Jesus continues by inviting the weary to “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.” In Jesus’ day, yokes were laid upon the shoulders of oxen so they could work together as a team. They were also used on prisoners of war and slaves. In a positive light, Sirach says, “Put your neck under the yoke” [of Wisdom], which was a rabbinic metaphor for joyful obedience to the Torah.

What type of yoke does Jesus offer? His way of teaching and discipleship isn’t burdensome but life-giving. In our weary seasons, he invites us to learn from him. He also invites us into community with each other. To take his yoke upon us means to be joined with the one in whom God’s kingdom of love, justice, compassion, and hope is breaking into this world. It means being yoked to each other in the Body of Christ. It means finding true rest for which our tired souls long.

There are two caveats to this invitation from Jesus. The first is that Jesus isn’t inviting us to a life of ease. Following him is full of risks, challenges, and difficulties. But it is a life free from the burden of our sins and brokenness, with the joy that comes from resting securely in God’s love and grace. The second caveat is that we’re not alone with Jesus when we’re yoked to him. Instead, he invites us into a community with relationships and tools to help us lighten the load. Sometimes we need someone with “skin on” to help us carry our burdens.

At First Methodist, we want to care deeply for each other. If you have a prayer request, please use an e-connection card on Sunday morning or submit a prayer here. Please call on each other or the pastors for the support you need. What’s more, if you are struggling with mental health right now, please seek help through therapy, medication, and other resources. For more information, visit IU Health Behavioral Services or the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

In this difficult season of change and trauma, may we recognize the presence of Christ with us through our church. Jesus and the Body of Christ are the places where we can turn, not simply to unload all our burdens, but to find a Savior and his community to help us lighten the load.