COMFORT - Matthew 11:28-30
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 11:28-30
A two way invitation from Jesus himself: first, to come to him for comfort: rest from weariness, relief from the burdens we carry and ease from all that troubles us; and, second, to learn from his example of gentleness and humility and to let his yoke be our comfort.
This is a motion picture of prayer, and it adds a few scenes that we don’t usually think of. When we are tired of the heavy loads we carry, we can turn to God in prayer, but here we find things turned around: Jesus calling out to us and inviting us to walk to him. And while prayer is often considered a way to ask God for help, here Jesus asks us to participate: to take up his yoke and learn how it lightens the load. We can certainly find comfort in the underlying premise of Psalm 55:22: “Cast your burden on the Lord and he will sustain you.” But here Jesus invites us to see how he sustains us, by sharing the journey with us and making the burden bearable.
A yoke is an interesting bit of imagery, too. It is a device that allows oxen, horses, donkeys — beasts of burden — to share in pulling a load. Note that when Jesus calls out to us, he does not ask us to slip out of our harnesses; rather, he asks us to take up a yoke, Jesus’s own yoke, and walk along side him. Learn by this, Jesus says. “My yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
This is not the only time we are asked to imagine an easier walk with God beside us. Recall the Good Shepherd at Psalm 23:4: “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff — they comfort me.”
The person of God
is a shepherd, my shepherd,
who assures I will have
all that I need,
A place to rest
and be refreshed
in the greenest pastures
beside the stillest waters,
A path to follow
to righteousness
in the name of the one
who leads me,
A prayer to say
as I walk through the shadows
that I may never feel afraid,
even in the face of my enemies,
A presence here
to comfort me
with your shepherd’s staff
and the strength of your stand.
You prepare for me
a banquet feast;
you pour fragrant oils all over me
and fill my cup to its capacity
And you promise me
your grace to follow me everywhere,
your loving mercy until the day I die
and your place, a place for me to live forever.
--- Psalm 23, revisited (2013)
For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand. It is I who say to you, “Do not fear, for I will help you.” - Isaiah 41:13
Dear God, thank you for calling to me even before I call to you, for walking beside me in my time of need and for teaching me along the way. You are my shepherd, and you are with me.
A two way invitation from Jesus himself: first, to come to him for comfort: rest from weariness, relief from the burdens we carry and ease from all that troubles us; and, second, to learn from his example of gentleness and humility and to let his yoke be our comfort.
This is a motion picture of prayer, and it adds a few scenes that we don’t usually think of. When we are tired of the heavy loads we carry, we can turn to God in prayer, but here we find things turned around: Jesus calling out to us and inviting us to walk to him. And while prayer is often considered a way to ask God for help, here Jesus asks us to participate: to take up his yoke and learn how it lightens the load. We can certainly find comfort in the underlying premise of Psalm 55:22: “Cast your burden on the Lord and he will sustain you.” But here Jesus invites us to see how he sustains us, by sharing the journey with us and making the burden bearable.
A yoke is an interesting bit of imagery, too. It is a device that allows oxen, horses, donkeys — beasts of burden — to share in pulling a load. Note that when Jesus calls out to us, he does not ask us to slip out of our harnesses; rather, he asks us to take up a yoke, Jesus’s own yoke, and walk along side him. Learn by this, Jesus says. “My yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
This is not the only time we are asked to imagine an easier walk with God beside us. Recall the Good Shepherd at Psalm 23:4: “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff — they comfort me.”
---
The person of God
is a shepherd, my shepherd,
who assures I will have
all that I need,
A place to rest
and be refreshed
in the greenest pastures
beside the stillest waters,
A path to follow
to righteousness
in the name of the one
who leads me,
A prayer to say
as I walk through the shadows
that I may never feel afraid,
even in the face of my enemies,
A presence here
to comfort me
with your shepherd’s staff
and the strength of your stand.
You prepare for me
a banquet feast;
you pour fragrant oils all over me
and fill my cup to its capacity
And you promise me
your grace to follow me everywhere,
your loving mercy until the day I die
and your place, a place for me to live forever.
--- Psalm 23, revisited (2013)
---
For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand. It is I who say to you, “Do not fear, for I will help you.” - Isaiah 41:13
---
Dear God, thank you for calling to me even before I call to you, for walking beside me in my time of need and for teaching me along the way. You are my shepherd, and you are with me.
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