Finding Rest in Christ
- davidwperk
- Oct 24, 2023
- 5 min read
Devotional Reflection, Tuesday, October 24, 2023
Proper 24, the week of the twenty-first Sunday After Pentecost
The Rev. David W. Perkins,Th.D.
Key phrases for reflection from today’s 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, 988)
AM Psalm 26, 28; PM Psalm 36, 39
Lam. 1:1-5(6-9)10-12; 1 Cor. 15:41-50; Matt. 11:25-30
Today we celebrate the Feast of Hiram H. Kano. (See below.)
David's Reflections
St. Augustine once said, "We come to God by love and not by navigation." It is God's love that brings us to Godself, God's love expressed in Jesus Christ. Here, Jesus says that no one knows the Father but the Son. The passage does not seem to be speaking about intellectual knowledge, but the knowledge of relationship and experience. No one has a relationship with the Father except Jesus and those to whom Jesus makes the Father known.
At first glance that sounds rather exclusive; yet, the opposite is the point. The invitation at the end is to all, "Come to me, all you that labor. . . " The point rather is that those who are arrogant and resistive will not and cannot see the light about God shining in the life of Jesus. Hence, Jesus’ statement that God makes Godself known to babes and not to the wise and insightful. In yesterday's reading Jesus challenged those who seemed incapable of humbling themselves in the face of a revelation of God in John the Baptist and Jesus different than what they expected.
The babes will see, Jesus says. Unlike the arrogant who resisted Jesus' ministry, the babes were those who humbled themselves, felt their own limits and needs, and depended solely on God. To the babes all was made known. They received Jesus, related to him, and thus had a relationship with the God who sent Jesus. Those later known as Apostles began as babes.
Could there be a self-reference in Jesus’ words. Jesus saw God ultimately, according to this passage. That would make Jesus the ultimate babe, the ultimate example of a humble one with radical openness to God.
We all are invited into just such a personal relationship—“all you who are weary and carrying heavy burdens.” Jesus invites us to receive the yoke of his teaching, which he refers to as a "light burden." He embodies that attitude of humble dependence on God in his own life. Whatever God showed him, he received and lived. He is gentle and humble in heart. He knows how to treasure us as vulnerable babes and love us gently. We can entrust ourselves to him without fear or anxiety. We can exchange our heavy burden for the light burden of his yoke.
Our only chance for lasting, deep rest comes in taking on Jesus' yoke, becoming his disciple. As long as we try to make it on our own, to find our own way, we will be those "who are weary and carrying heavy burdens." When we entrust our lives to Jesus and commit to follow him, to take his yoke, we find release, forgiveness, joy, and a creative and full life. It is not that discipleship is easy, permissive, undisciplined. It is that only by entrusting ourselves to Jesus and accepting the demands of his teaching and lived life that we can hope to find the release and joy for which our souls hunger.
"We come to God by love and not by navigation."
Collect of the Day, Proper 24, the twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost
Almighty and everlasting God, in Christ you have revealed your glory among the nations: Preserve the works of your mercy, that your Church throughout the world may persevere with steadfast faith in the confession of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP, 235)
Today we celebrate the Feast of Hiram H. Kano, priest (died 24 Oct 1988 CE).
Collect of the Feast of Hiram H. Kano
Almighty God who has reconciled the world to yourself through Christ: Entrust to your church the ministry of reconciliation as you did to your servant Hiram Hisanori Kano, and raise up ambassadors for Christ to proclaim your love and peace wherever conflict and hatred divide; through Jesus Christ our Lord who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever. Amen.
A Collect for Peace
O God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries; through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 99)
For those who suffer for the sake of Conscience
O God our Father, whose Son forgave his enemies while he was suffering shame and death: Strengthen those who suffer for the sake of conscience; when they are accused, save them from speaking in hate; when they are rejected, save them
from bitterness; when they are imprisoned, save them from despair; and to us your servants, give grace to respect their witness and to discern the truth, that our society may be cleansed and strengthened. This we ask for the sake of Jesus
Christ, our merciful and righteous Judge. Amen. (BCP, 823)
A Prayer for Light
O Lord God Almighty, as you have taught us to call the evening, the morning, and the noonday one day; and have made the sun to know its going down: Dispel the darkness of our hearts, that by your brightness we may know you to be the true God and eternal light, living and reigning for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP, 110)
A Collect for Mission
O God, you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth, and sent your blessed Son to preach peace to those who are far off and to those who are near: Grant that people everywhere may seek after you and find you; bring the nations into your fold; pour out your Spirit upon all flesh; and hasten the coming of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 100)
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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