Today's Meditation
Matthew 11:28-30
"Come to me, all you that 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."
This passage from Matthew might be one of the strangest passages to read at the start of Holy Week knowing what follows after Palm Sunday and the adoring crowds. And yet, Richard Rohr (as you should know by now - one of my current favorite authors and theologians) says;
"Life is hard...it is hard to bear God - but it is even harder not to bear God... If our religion has no deep joy and no inherent contentment about it, then it is not the real thing. If our religion is primarily fear of self, the world, and God; if it is primarily focused on meeting religious duties and obligations, then it is indeed a hard yoke and heavy burden. I'd go so far as to say that it's hardly worthwhile. I think the promise from Jesus that his burden is easy and light seeks to reassure us that rigid and humorless religion is not his way..."
We heard from federal authorities this week that life is going to get really difficult, that the number of COVID-19 cases are going to sky-rocket and that considerable more deaths are inevitable. That is so depressing and difficult to hear, particularly as we enter the darkest week in our Christian calendar and celebrations.
But the one thing we cling to as Christians is that the battle is not over. There will still be light at the end of the dark tunnel and new life out of an empty tomb.
I deeply mourn the loss of every human being who succumbs to this virus and am saddened for their families. I daily (without ceasing) pray for the those who are experiencing anxiety and depression during this time apart from one another. And I fervently hope that people are taking EVERY precaution they can to stay safe.
But our hope is in the grace of God who has witnessed all of earth's dark tragedies, in the eternal redemption gained for us through Jesus Christ in his life, death, and resurrection, and finally in the power of the Holy Spirit even now at work in and through us.
In light of today's passage - rest in God, take solace in knowing that the battle is not over, that indeed joy comes in the morning, and that Easter (not necessarily a calendar date - but rather an event of new life) will soon be here.
God is ALWAYS with us!
Luke Evans' You'll Never Walk Alone
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