The Third Sunday after Pentecost, Year A The Rev. Dr. Howard J. Hess
What Does It Mean to be Yoked Together with Jesus? July 3, 2011
I. Introduction. As you know, we have a number of weddings here at Church of the Ascension. Whichever one of the clergy is officiating at the wedding engages in premarital counseling with the prospective bride and groom. One of the most important things I share with them is our belief that in marriage, two persons both remain separate, yet become one. They become “yoked” together in the way that Jesus is describing our being yoked with him in this morning’s gospel. The married couple become one in body, mind, and spirit and promise to remain together in times of both adversity and of joy “as long as they both shall live.” The idea of becoming connected with another in marriage is more than just a contract in our church. It is a sacred promise to remain faithful to the other in all circumstances. Contrary to much current thinking, this union does not rely only on the foundation of feeling that one is in love with another. The oneness of husband and wife is a sacramental unity in which thoughts, feelings, and dreams begin to mesh together in one. Both parties begin to see the world more broadly because they see it now not only through their own eyes, but also through the eyes of the beloved. This notion that relationship leads to unity is intrinsic, basic to our Christian faith.
II. Thus, when Jesus says “My yoke is easy and my burden is light,” his words must be comprehended in the deepest possible sense. Some may get the impression that one can follow Jesus casually, that not much has to change in one’s life. After all, Jesus is love and doesn’t love only want what is best for us? Isn’t the best love unconditional? Yes, but there is more – much, much more. When Jesus invites us to yoke ourselves together with him, that means that wherever Jesus goes, we go; whatever Jesus does, we do. We take on the mind of Christ so that we are always pulling in the same direction with him. We develop such a close relationship with Christ that we increasingly think, feel, and act as Christ does. We become one with Christ. We change very dramatically, but not because Christ controls us and makes us act against our will. Rather, of our own free will, we increasingly want what Christ wants and want Christ to live through us.
III. What then do we do with the part of today’s Gospel about Christ’s yoke being easy and light? Let me explain the context of this passage. Matthew was written to a largely Jewish Christian audience. When they heard Jesus speak about being yoked to him, they would immediately associate to what they had been taught – namely, that they were to be yoked to the Torah. That meant that they were to adhere to the thousands of laws, interpretations of the laws, and emandations or elaborations to the laws. It was literally impossible for even the most pious Jew to always adhere to the Torah. Worship of the rules of religion had in many ways substituted for worship of the God who had originally given the law for the benefit of God’s people. When Jesus offered himself as the yoke, he was not intending to destroy the law, but rather to fulfill it. You see, Jesus knew that a religion based centrally upon rules and regulations could harden hearts and lead to much judgment. For example, it was the rules about not defiling oneself that led the Levite and the Pharisee to walk past the wounded man, the Samaritan, on the side of the road.
A religion based upon rigid rules and judgment turns many away. It certainly did me as a young adult for whom issues such as not drinking, not going to movies, and not dancing seemed to be the wrong things to base a religion upon. And I never did accept the explanation that my Sunday School teachers gave me that Jesus only drank unfermented wine. It was some time until I discovered a church that focused less upon God’s judgment and more upon Christ’s loving presence.
IV. If Jesus was not advocating yoking oneself with the laws of the Torah, what was he proposing? I believe that Jesus was proposing that we enter into a deep relationship with him that will be based upon two things: 1) our willingness to acknowledge him as the Son of God who loves us and gave himself over to death for us, and 2) to actively love him in return. Our love is active and sacrificial, just as his love for us is active and sacrificial. As disciples of Christ, we agree to be coupled with him and to undergo radical change that will affect every area of our lives. Our actions, particularly with those who are in need or are marginalized, become so compelling that others will see Christ through us.
Let me give you an example of how we can become more like Christ that came out of this week’s meeting of the Wednesday morning Bible study. Each Wednesday, whichever one of us is preaching the following Sunday meets with the Bible study group to reflect on the week’s lectionary. This week we spent a great deal of time talking about the many ways in which people change when they are closely yoked with Jesus Christ. Our capacity for active love can overcome our own biases and resentment. One participant told a true story of a young woman named Peggy Covill. Her parents were missionaries in China during WWII. Her parents were captured by the Japanese and killed in captivity. For many of us, such an act against our parents would create hatred toward the Japanese. However, their daughter’s story does not reflect hatred. After the war, many Japanese were asked, ”Didn’t not the Americans treated you badly in their internment camps after you were captured?” Many said, “No, in fact there was a young woman, Peggy, who looked after our every need; gave us water to drink; and take excellent are of us.” This young woman’s close relationship with Jesus Christ allowed her to love instead of hate. She was yoked with Christ.
V. Conclusion. Over the past few years, many have observed that Ascension has made many strides in yoking itself with Jesus Christ. We have found new ways to love one another, we have further expanded our ministry beyond our own community, and we have increased our financial support of God’s work. We have been further developing our gifts of hospitality and generosity. At the same time, we have also developed many programs to help us grow in our spiritual lives. However, today the Gospel tells us that we can go even deeper. I believe as we become more yoked with Christ, our conviction and commitment will beam out more fully in every possible direction. When we are one with Christ, our hearts, minds, and souls will so overflow with his love that there is no end to what we will do in his name.
For some of us, going deeper means that we will want to share Christ’s love and the love experienced in this community at Ascension with others. We will become more and more comfortable – even eager – to bring others with us to worship, study, and go deeper with us. For others of us, going deeper means that we will increasingly want to express our generosity with those in need both with those within our parish and in the larger community. As our economy continues to cause many to struggle, our resources are often insufficient to meet the need. For example, at least three times during the month of June, we did not have sufficient funds in the Discretionary account to assist our own members as fully as they needed. And we must frequently turn away others outside our parish community who come to us for help. There are countless other ways in which being yoked with Christ will continue to change our perceptions and actions here at Church of the Ascension. May we be open and unafraid to go where Christ leads us. Amen.
Comments
Post a Comment