Reflection on Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30

I have been pretty weary lately.  And, I know that you have been too.  A person can only handle so much change in the world before a deep weariness sets in. 

You want to know what weariness feels like? 

Weariness is letting your foot hang off the edge of the bed at night because you do not really care if a monster grabs it. 

Weariness is showing someone around your house saying, “And, this is the room where I cry myself to sleep.”  “But, you’ve said that about the last three rooms.”  “Exactly!” 

You know, life is like a box of chocolates, mostly disappointing. 

And, to whoever stole my antidepressants, I hope you’re happy now.

Did anyone come for an uplifting sermon?  This might not be your day.  Actually, you might hear something uplifting from Jesus after-all, so do not give up hope on me too soon. 

But, before we get to that, Jesus describes a situation that all know too well; and it is the source of so much weariness.  It is the situation in which John the Baptist was condemned by people because he abstained from eating and drinking, yet Jesus was condemned by people because he did eat and drink.  “Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!” people accused. 

There is just no winning. 

It is true that you cannot please everyone all the time, but this sort of stuff get really tiring.  There is only so much pointless, self-centered arguing that any one person can take. 

“We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we wailed, and you did not mourn.”  

A little cabin hidden away in the woods looks better and better all the time!

Yet, Jesus did not retreat from the self-centered world that complains and wines like children in the marketplace.  Instead, he views them as children...real children who need real compassion and guidance. 

Children, after-all, do throw fits whenever they do not get their way, but children do also learn.  In fact, Jesus says that God reveals things to the youngest of us all: infants.  Infants may be the definition of selfish and self-centered, always asking for food and diaper changes, but they are also the primary beings in the universe who have the most potential to learn. 

Instead of having us retreat to a lonely cabin, away from a self-centered world, Jesus proposes simply viewing people as children.  And, he proposes to lift the weariness off of our shoulders in the first place. 

Here is what I mean.  There was a time when mac-and-cheese was the only food that a certain little one would agree to eat. 

“Listen here little one, mac-and-cheese for every meal is not healthy,” the adults would try to convince. 

But, kids are kids, and kids want what tastes good to them, and they want what they know. 

“No, I want mac-and-cheese!” the child screamed at the top of her lungs. 

Now, this irrational back and forth could make a person weary really, really quick.  But, the truth of the matter is that the child is a child.  Also true is that fruits and vegetables are valuable no matter what the child screams.  The truth is the truth. 

Instead, of arguing about the mac-and-cheese, and therefore getting very, very weary, one can just let that argument go…one can just let that burden be removed and simply set the fruits and vegetables in front of the child.  Whether the child tastes them or not is up to them, but the need to win the argument can be lifted off of our shoulders.

In fact, Jesus promises to lift all of these heavy, weary-inducing circumstances off of our shoulders, and in their place we are given Jesus life of love.  Is what you are doing based in love?  Then there is no reason to worry about the rest. 

Let Jesus lift off the worries.  Let Jesus lift off the endless arguments of these past months and days.  Let Jesus lift away all your concerns, and instead Jesus will allow you to carry around his eternal love. 

It is a love that cares instead of argues.  It is a love that saves rather than condemns.  It is a love that seeks to live in the truth rather than winning at all costs.  It is a love that would go to the cross for self-centered children, and save them from their own destructive ways.  It is a love that lasts until the end.

“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.”

So, come.  Come to Jesus.  Allow him to carry all your weariness.  And, in return, allow him to wrap his love around your shoulders.  Love looks much better on you anyway.