You’re either going to love it or hate it. You’re not alone. Throughout the ancient writings known as the Bible, Holy Scriptures, God’s Word, Gospel, or whatever, a challenge is made to go deep to discern what is its message. If you want something easy to make you feel good, read that chicken soup book. This one is not for the intellectually lazy or the spiritually timid. It’s seeming paradoxes and contradictions call for heavy wrestlers who can take full body slams and climb up again for the next round.

Oppositional Teaching

For the one who called himself the Son of Man (whatever that means: male, relationship to a paternal figure, or a broad composite of humanity?), Jesus did not refrain from using images that oppose each other. At one point he tells the crowds, “How shall I describe this generation? These people are like a group of children playing a game in the public square.” Due to their high mortality rate, you couldn’t count on children to be of any service now or a later return for your care. On both counts, they weren’t worth much emotional investment unless they survived long enough to work and bring in return. Otherwise, kids could be a real pain in the least or a liability in the long run.

Even Jesus seems frustrated with them. It’s an easy comparison with the crowd and their spiritual fickleness. They didn’t care for John the Baptist’s austere practices of abstinence and fasting. They said he was just no fun, even demon-possessed. Yet, they got all over Jesus and his disciples for feasting and drinking, calling them gluttons and drunkards and “a friend of the worst sort of sinners,” not to mention implication by association. Like children bullying other kids, no one who claims to be called by or from God gets a fair shake from the social stream of the day. Jesus seems to be really tired of their stupid criticisms.

You understand. We all know if you want to take someone down, you discredit them no matter what position they take. John and Jesus couldn’t win for losing. That’s how it works.

Simplistic Trust

In a sly move though, Jesus soon moves into prayer, a prayer that affirms those who hold on to simple faith, even that like the faith of a trusting child for one who loves completely. Those who adhere to this are the ones who will understand what the “wise and clever” can’t grasp. Jesus explained it this way: “But wisdom is shown to be right by what results from it.”  From simple, honest belief comes wisdom, a comprehension which encompassed a broad and full intelligence of both the human and the divine. This kind of insight produces a faith greater than investigative analysis which seeks its own ends rather than revelation of what is greater than oneself. It’s an exchange of the child-ish for the child-like. Jesus thanks God for these.

He can do that, for Jesus understands what God knows and sees. Those who are honest in their seeking, who accent to what God offers, will not be blinded by their own acumen, inclinations, and schemes. That openness affords them perceptions not available otherwise. And to these, Jesus makes a promise.

Freedom of Release

“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” Don’t we need that right now. Rest from tension and stress like we never saw coming. Rest from apprehensions about the economy and a war. Rest from political divisiveness that has nearly paralyzed our nation. Rest from the hate that spews out on neighbors caught by the injustices of personal and systemic racism. All these and so much more that’s been carried for too long and has frayed the psyche leaving doubt, conflict and unanswered questions in our amoral/immoral world.

We’ve tried our own diversions, but they don’t work. We say, “There must be more to life than this.” Jesus says, There is. “Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you…” It’s another paradox. A yoke on cattle was used to both control its will and submit it to use. Why exchange one strain for another? The metaphor is a stretch.

Yet therein lies what Jesus has to teach. You’re going to be controlled by something, a master of some sort. Or maybe even many competing aims and ambitions. The question in life is which one will enslave you. Jesus’ choice offers purpose and rest, to be in communion with him as he takes on the burdens in life. It’s never a promise for a life of ease. It’s a promise of help on the journey, “because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls.” The seeking and searching find a place to rest not by giving all the answers or erasing all pains, but by being with a God who accepts in grace who we are by what Jesus can do.

“For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light.”

Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30