The Yoke of Slavery

Gospel: Matthew 11: 28-30

In ancient Rome the slave was made to wear a wrap around metal collar that could only be removed by the slave master.  The collar was made to resemble in appearance the yoke of oxen used to pull wagons, plows, and other loads.  The message this collar conveyed both to the slave and everyone else that the existence of the slave is sub-human, that they exist on par with beasts of burden.  That this condition was imposed only on foreigners gives us the origins of our present day animus and treatment of the other.

Now, along comes Jesus in today's Gospel portion who tells us that his yoke is easy, and that our burden light if we accept to be servants in his kingdom.  For in the kingdom Jesus does not call us servants but friends, seeing us as images of God, images of himself, and temples of the Holy Spirit.  We are in fact not slaves but citizens of heaven, and the burden we carry is that of others in the work of mercy and loving kindness that is the task of the worker in the vineyard.

The fundamental option before us is whether we will accept the yoke of the world where the burden is onerous and the rewards are a mirage, or whether we will accept the yoke of the Lord Jesus where we ease the burden of each other as we work together to build the kingdom of God, a civilization of love that honors and respects the dignity of all human beings as images of God, images of Christ, temples of the Holy Spirit.   

The Learned and Clever

Gospel: Matthew 11: 25-27

Note carefully the encounters we have with the learned scholars in the Gospels.  More often than not, we find them in the employ of the ruling powers who seek the ruin of Jesus and others for their own power.  Scholars of the law advised Herod on the coming Messiah, taking part in his deeds of violence.  In their interactions with Jesus, the scholars of the law are either in the employ of the Sadducees and Herodians, or among those seeking to justify themselves.  

To be learned in itself is not bad, but how often is it used for nefarious purposes in support of the rich and powerful to the expense of the poor and marginalized.  For this reason Jesus continually encourages us to a life of the simplicity of a child.  A child has no power and continually open to learning and experiencing new things.  Children have an inner world of imagination and possibility adults have lost long ago.  The child is not a cynic or skeptic.  

In seeking to be like children we remember that learning is for the sake of seeking wisdom and not power.  Learning is a cultivation of the imagination, the openness to new experiences and possibility.  Learning is for the service and care of others, not for being apologists and tools for the powers of this world.  Today is a day for us to commit to this learning for wisdom, to remaining ever open to the voice of God within, and using our learning to serve and care for others. 

Human Depravity

Gospel: Matthew 11: 20-24

In the Old Testament the characterization of God and mercy was that a person had to perform a certain action before receiving mercy, e.g. sacrifice a bull or such.  Or, mercy would be extended only after a harsh punishment was placed upon the people such as a plague or exile.  People would alter behavior, but only to avoid pain.  Little evidence exists that the change was deep-seeded.  It was certainly not long lasting as this cycle repeated itself over and over again.

Jesus takes a different approach.  He extends mercy in the hopes that people will respond deeply to his offer of love.  In today's Gospel portion he laments the fact that such has not been the case.  People are healed, demons are removed, people are fed and nourished.  Yet, little change of behavior can be observed.  This reality says far more about our human depravity than it does about the approaches to such depravity noted above.  No matter what the approach, we humans continue on our wayward way.

We human beings might speak of progress in our race with little actual evidence to suggest such is actually the case.  The body counts, the corruption, the hypocrisy all point to a different conclusion.  We may have progressed in our technology and the like, but our moral progress as a species has not moved positively in a forward direction.  We might well wonder what difference Jesus has made.  Only those who have responded to his love and mercy can say for sure.  It is the only solution to our human depravity.