Bearing an Easy Yoke
- davidwperk
- May 23, 2024
- 5 min read
Devotional, Reflection, Thursday, May 23, 2024
Proper 2, The week of Pentecost Sunday
The Rev David W. Perkins, Th.D.
Key phrases for reflection from today’s Gospel reading:
28 ‘Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’
You will find the full text of today’s Gospel reading at the end of this reflection.
Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, p.
AM Psalm 18:1-20; PM Psalm 18:21-50
Prov. 7:1-27; 1 John 5:13-21; Matt. 11:25-30
Today we celebrate the Feast of Nicholas Copernicus and Johannes Kepler (See below.)
David’s Reflections
Paul Tournier, the French psychiatrist, tells a story of one his patients.
“"There was one patient of mine, the youngest daughter in a large family, which the father found it difficult to support. One day she heard him mutter despairingly, referring to herself: 'We could well have done without that one!'"
Today’s Gospel presents us with a picture of a God who never could say that about any of us, “We could well have done without that one.!” Jesus says that the divine revelation is available even to babies (see verse 25 below). The wise and self-styled intelligent refuse divine light and, in turn, exclude themselves from God’s attempts to illumine and save all. And, Jesus says that anyone who feels burdened and heavily laden has an open invitation to come to him. I find that phrase “all you that are weary” an exciting unveiling of God’s treasuring of us exactly at the moment when we feel the least lovable.
How poignant a description of Jesus, one who shares the yoke of obedience with us and who offers to share that load with us, Jesus who cares about our feelings of weariness and distress. That Jesus is gentle and humble and will not oppress or abuse us. Rather, we will find spiritual rest and refreshment by believing in him and learning from him. He asks us to take on a light load, and he will share that load with us. Every command, every demand in Jesus’ teaching presents us with an opportunity for freedom and obedience. Were we not capable, with Christ working in us, would God be expecting what God expects of us?
The Christian community exists to extend this invitation. We need not feel intimidated by those who condescend and think us daft because of our faith. We extend Christ’s invitation to them and grieve for them. Those are the very people who, even though God seeks to save them, will find themselves on the outside looking in. And we keep extending ourselves, searching for the babes, the heavily laden, those desperate for spiritual rest. We are to extend Jesus’ invitation to them at all costs, “Come, all who labor and are burdened down. The Jesus who has given me rest will give you rest as well.” Nothing less than fully extending ourselves in mission will be an acceptable following of the Christ who fully extends himself for us.
* Paul Tournier, A Doctor's Casebook in Light of the Bible
Collect of the Day, Pentecost Sunday
Almighty God, on this day you opened the way of eternal life to every race and nation by the promised gift of your Holy Spirit: Shed abroad this gift throughout the world by the preaching of the Gospel, that it may reach to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP, 227)
Today we celebrate the Feast of Nicholas Copernicus and Johannes Kepler, astronomers (died 24 May 1543 CE and 15 Nov 1630 CE).
Collect of the Feast of Nicholas Copernicus and Johannes Kepler
As the heavens declare your glory, O God, and the firmament shows your handiwork, we bless your Name for the gifts of knowledge and insight you bestowed upon Nicolaus Copernicus and Johannes Kepler; and we pray that you would continue to advance our understanding of your cosmos, for our good and for your glory; through Jesus Christ, the firstborn of all creation, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
A Collect for Guidance
O God, whose Son Jesus is the good shepherd of your people; Grant that when we hear his voice we may know him who calls us each by name, and follow where he leads; who, with you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP 100)
Guidance into the Future
O God, who has made us creatures of time, so that every tomorrow is unknown country, and every decision a venture in faith. Grant us, frail children of the day, who are yet blind to the future, to move toward it in the sure confidence of your love, from which neither life nor death can ever separate us. Amen.
(Reinhold Niebuhr, cited by Elizabeth R. Geitz, Calling Clergy: A Spiritual and Practical Guide Through the Search Process (New York: Church Publishing, 2007), p. xii.)
In the Order of Worship for Evening
Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers, creator of the changes of day and night, giving rest to the weary, renewing the strength of those who are spent, bestowing upon us occasions of song in the evening. As you have protected us in the day that is past, so be with us in the coming night; keep us from every sin, every evil, and every fear; for you are our light and salvation, and the strength of our life. To you be glory for endless ages. Amen. (BCP, 113)
A Collect for Mission
O God, you manifest in your servants the signs of your presence: Send forth upon us the spirit of love, that in companionship with one another your abounding grace may increase among us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 125)
Daily Office Gospel, Matthew 11:25-30
25 At that time Jesus said, ‘I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; 26yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 27All 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.
28 ‘Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’
Daily Offices in the Book of Common Prayer
Morning Prayer, Rite 2, page 75, The Book of Common Prayer
Noonday Prayer, page 103, Book of Common Prayer
Order of Worship for Evening (Vespers), p 109, Book of Common Prayer
Evening Prayer, Rite 2, page 115, Book of Common Prayer
Compline (Night Prayer), page 127, Book of Common Prayer
Daily Devotionals, page 136, Book of Common Prayer
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