July 9, 2017 - Fifth Sunday after Pentecost - Can Faith In Something Bigger Truly Rest Our Souls?

Matthew 11:16-30:  All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 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."

Søren Kierkegaard wrote an exposition on Christ's "wonderful" invitation in this passage. (click the link here).  

When I meditate on this passage and Kierkegaard's words I often wonder what a soul at rest looks like. When a person physically rests the body is still. What instantly comes to mind with rest is tranquility. Is tranquility the kind of rest Jesus is promising?

Kierkegaard sees rest as being able to abide with Christ - to remain. The yoke suggests a union. Jesus promises this union is easy and his burden light.

Our souls are built for relationships. Pastor Michelle preached today about our perception of uncertainty in our world causes us to seek certainty, to choose "our" tribe and to proclaim "We are right - God is like us." We move from being gentle to being insistent.  We move from being humble to being proud. This probably is not taking Christ's yoke. This probably is not learning from Jesus.

Pastor Michelle preached that  the reproach Jesus gives here is his warning that we should pay attention in our lives and in our world.  What is tough to say and accept is that being with Jesus is not guiding us towards physical safety or tranquillity.  The safest place in this world is NOT in the centre of God's will.

The center of God's will may, in fact, be one of the wildest, most dangerous places imaginable. To expect otherwise because of assumptions based on passages like this don't really portray what Jesus teaches if what normally passes as rest and tranquility is a desire. Following the way of the cross is a way that may lead to death and that may be what taking up your cross means.

Worship ended with the hymn What a Friend We Have In Jesus. I thought of the last part of the closing verse:

Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in Prayer.
In his arms he'll take and shield you; you will find a solace there.

Solace meaning comfort in sorrow, misfortune, or trouble; where distress or discomfort is alleviated does not initially strike us as Jesus giving us rest. This is not tranquility and I don't think that is what Jesus is promising his followers.