How would you define insanity?
My favorite definition is that “insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results.” Whether it’s arguing with Google maps about which route to take, trying to cook without a recipe, or following the same broken pattern of trying to control or master everyday life on my own, it doesn’t end well. But still I hesitate, clinging to the idea that maybe this time, it'll turn out differently.
Of course, it doesn’t. I have to find a turnaround, or dump the whole pan into the trash, or confess my conceit or arrogance,
my sin.
In today’s gospel reading, Jesus is speaking to me, and to any of you who are like me.
You can imagine him throwing his hands up in the air, as he wonders out loud, “To what will I compare this generation?”
First, his cousin John had come to the people proclaiming that the kingdom of God was near, but they had dismissed him; and now Jesus is with them, showing them what the kingdom of God looks like all around them, and they find fault with him as well. But it isn’t their fault-finding that Jesus abhors; it is their refusal to see that God is offering them abundant life. Instead, they are distracted and disgruntled by adiaphora, the inconsequential things.
Their attitude remind me of a group of students I was with at Lutheridge a couple of weeks ago for confirmation camp. During our teaching about where God shows up in our lives, we include a number of scenes from “Simon Birch”, a movie based on the novel A Prayer for Owen Meany. In one of the scenes, a mother dies unexpectedly after she is hit on the head by a baseball, and in the minutes after the scene, the kids in the group began dissecting the physics of what had happened. They were asking questions about velocity and anatomy; anything to avoid the harder and more ambiguous questions: questions like,
My favorite definition is that “insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results.” Whether it’s arguing with Google maps about which route to take, trying to cook without a recipe, or following the same broken pattern of trying to control or master everyday life on my own, it doesn’t end well. But still I hesitate, clinging to the idea that maybe this time, it'll turn out differently.
Of course, it doesn’t. I have to find a turnaround, or dump the whole pan into the trash, or confess my conceit or arrogance,
my sin.
In today’s gospel reading, Jesus is speaking to me, and to any of you who are like me.
You can imagine him throwing his hands up in the air, as he wonders out loud, “To what will I compare this generation?”
First, his cousin John had come to the people proclaiming that the kingdom of God was near, but they had dismissed him; and now Jesus is with them, showing them what the kingdom of God looks like all around them, and they find fault with him as well. But it isn’t their fault-finding that Jesus abhors; it is their refusal to see that God is offering them abundant life. Instead, they are distracted and disgruntled by adiaphora, the inconsequential things.
Their attitude remind me of a group of students I was with at Lutheridge a couple of weeks ago for confirmation camp. During our teaching about where God shows up in our lives, we include a number of scenes from “Simon Birch”, a movie based on the novel A Prayer for Owen Meany. In one of the scenes, a mother dies unexpectedly after she is hit on the head by a baseball, and in the minutes after the scene, the kids in the group began dissecting the physics of what had happened. They were asking questions about velocity and anatomy; anything to avoid the harder and more ambiguous questions: questions like,
Where was God in this story? and
How is our loving God present in the midst of tragedy?
As we brought the conversation back to those big questions, someone noticed out loud on how much easier it is for us to focus on the minutia, to tackle the questions that have concrete answers and don’t force us to engage faith.
The crowds around Jesus were doing the same thing. They were focused on what John wore or who Jesus ate with and what he drank, and they ignored the harder questions of what it would mean to repent or how they might love someone who is very different from themselves.
As we brought the conversation back to those big questions, someone noticed out loud on how much easier it is for us to focus on the minutia, to tackle the questions that have concrete answers and don’t force us to engage faith.
The crowds around Jesus were doing the same thing. They were focused on what John wore or who Jesus ate with and what he drank, and they ignored the harder questions of what it would mean to repent or how they might love someone who is very different from themselves.
And Jesus calls them out,
“Stop paying attention to things that don’t matter!”
And then, with great gentleness, he reminds his followers that God’s mercy is still there for them. For us.
Saying, “Come to me all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest”, Jesus reminds us that we do not bear the weight of the world, or even our own lives, alone.
“Stop paying attention to things that don’t matter!”
And then, with great gentleness, he reminds his followers that God’s mercy is still there for them. For us.
Saying, “Come to me all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest”, Jesus reminds us that we do not bear the weight of the world, or even our own lives, alone.
God accompanies us and offers us rest and respite.
Relying on ourselves, shouldering the load and refusing to seek the help that is available doesn’t mean we’re more competent, capable or stronger. It only means we’re alone, and the God we know in Scripture didn’t create us to be alone! God created us for relationship, with God and with one another.
When we take on the yoke of discipleship
where we are listening to God’s Word in our lives and building relationships with one another
Relying on ourselves, shouldering the load and refusing to seek the help that is available doesn’t mean we’re more competent, capable or stronger. It only means we’re alone, and the God we know in Scripture didn’t create us to be alone! God created us for relationship, with God and with one another.
When we take on the yoke of discipleship
where we are listening to God’s Word in our lives and building relationships with one another
and where we live in response to the mercy we have first been given,
we are strengthened for the challenges we face in this life.
Recently I heard a teacher describe Belgian plow horses - forgive the comparison - but this is a breed of draft horses who are incredibly strong. And, as he told us about these beasts, he noted that alone, a single horse can pull 8,000 pounds, and then he went on to talk about how much weight two horses yoked together can pull. And, it was a staggering amount, but what was even more remarkable was that when two of these horses have been brought up and trained together, they can pull not twice as much, but four times as much – 32,000 pounds![1]
Over and over, we forget God’s promises,
we are strengthened for the challenges we face in this life.
Recently I heard a teacher describe Belgian plow horses - forgive the comparison - but this is a breed of draft horses who are incredibly strong. And, as he told us about these beasts, he noted that alone, a single horse can pull 8,000 pounds, and then he went on to talk about how much weight two horses yoked together can pull. And, it was a staggering amount, but what was even more remarkable was that when two of these horses have been brought up and trained together, they can pull not twice as much, but four times as much – 32,000 pounds![1]
Over and over, we forget God’s promises,
we try to carry our burdens alone and then we wonder why we are so exhausted.
God provides us with partners in the gospel, and in life, to help us.
That is what it means to be church together. Together our strength is increased.
Jesus isn’t making new promises here; he is recalling familiar, but perhaps overlooked, or even forgotten, words from the psalmists and the prophets who first proclaimed God’s promises to be with us and bear our burdens.
Today I want to give you a reminder that God offers us a different life,
a reminder that we don’t have to keep doing the same thing and expecting a different result.
I have a prayer square, like this one, for everyone here today
the tag has Matthew 11:28 on one side:
"Come to me all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest."
and the other side reads: 
As you take a square this morning, I invite you to remember that God carries your burdens day by day and offers you rest.
"This square is made with prayers for your comfort, encouragement, safety and well-being. When you feel lonely or need comfort, reach for me in your pocket. You are not alone. God and our prayers are with you always. God bless and keep you."
As you take a square this morning, I invite you to remember that God carries your burdens day by day and offers you rest.
Let us pray…
Holy God,
When we are wearied and burdened by sin,
help us remember that you forgive our sin and give us new life;
Give us wisdom that we would choose the yoke of discipleship and follow Jesus;
Help us find rest in you and by your Holy Spirit, fill us with joy that our words and actions would reflect your merciful love.
Amen.
[1] Dave Ramsey, Financial Peace University.
Holy God,
When we are wearied and burdened by sin,
help us remember that you forgive our sin and give us new life;
Give us wisdom that we would choose the yoke of discipleship and follow Jesus;
Help us find rest in you and by your Holy Spirit, fill us with joy that our words and actions would reflect your merciful love.
Amen.
[1] Dave Ramsey, Financial Peace University.
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