It was the reading from Paul’s letter to the Romans that first caught my attention and I came across this summary of it….
Paul…. Humble enough to know that I’ve got a ton of flaws. But wise enough to know that my heart is pure and my soul is as dopey as they come!
Paul is an interesting character… and often frustrating to understand just what he is saying in his letters. Though we must remember that they were not written in English, but in Greek. Then translated into English. Also we do not have the originals, but handwritten copies of copies of copies. There may also be some inadvertent changes made along the way.
Paul was born and raised a Jewish Pharisee… a zealot against the early followers of Jesus… obviously a man of strong character, emotions and actions. It took a major intervention from God to get his attention. Paul talks about it and so does the writer of Luke in the Book of Acts. What happened to him on the road to Damascus and what he went through for a time after were a major turning point in his life and his understanding of God.
His letters often seem wordy, confident and often not easy to understand or read! (Including this one today). He is highly educated as well. But…..there is a but…and we see it today. He realizes that sometimes he has a problem…my first thought was that this was the musings of someone with a bit of an inferiority complex. One commentator wondered if he had a drinking problem…this confession sounds a lot like you might hear in an AA meeting. My name is Paul and I have a problem….
Paul’s “in your face” personality did annoy other people; nobody would go on a trip with him…twice! Apparently he would make resolutions to himself about his behaviour, or whatever it was that annoyed the others, but then he’d do it again. Oh how human!
And doesn’t it all sound so familiar? I’m sure we can all relate to some degree.
We read scripture and picture these strong personalities that we now call Saints, as being perfect…but they were not…they were just as human as we are!
There is a thread holding these readings together, Rebecca is given the burden of becoming Issac’s wife and bearing his children, washing his socks and it all started with offering to water those 10 stinky Camels. Paul has the burden of not being able to control his longwindedness and forcefulness. And Jesus carries the burden of conflicting expectations…” For John (the Baptist) came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon;’ and I (The Son of Man) came eating and drinking, and they say, “Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!”
So are these examples of the burdens that Jesus is talking about in the Gospel Reading…” 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.”?
Yoke is not something most of us are familiar with…in the commentary I was reading someone was ask “What is a yoke? Part of an egg?” A Yoke is a wooden crosspiece that is fastened over the necks of two or more animals and attached to a plow or cart that they are to pull. The burden is lighter if two or more share the load!
It is so true that most things are much easier if the chore is shared. But this is about more than just a chore. This is deeper and much more personal.
Someone in your family, a good friend or a community group such as AA or a Church Family can be helpful. But sometimes a burden, a problem, a situation can’t be shared with another human person…it may be just too personal. So this is what Paul and Jesus were suggesting …Paul said “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” and Jesus said “Come to me and I will give you rest.”
We always have that help right there beside us…we just don’t often recognize or acknowledge it. It is there for big problems and even the little ones. To share it with Jesus, God, the Holy Spirit, however you perceive the Holy, is a blessing. Just knowing that we are not alone is a relief and release.
This is the Good News we hear in the Readings this morning. The work is to remember this when we find ourselves overwhelmed or frustrated with ourselves or a situation. Remember what de Chardin said…” We are not human being having a spiritual experience, we are spiritual beings having a human experience.” Created in God’s image and God loves us even in our humanness!
” Let go and Let God” … “Be still and know that I am God.” Share your burdens with the One who loves us unconditionally. And maybe just a reminder that others also have burdens we know nothing about…and to be understanding…and if needed, to be a listening, understanding and accepting ear.
I’m going to remember this…Paul or Marian…. Humble enough to know that I’ve got a ton of flaws. But wise enough to know that my heart is pure and my soul is as dopey as they come!
Amen
