Rev. Geoff McKee’s sermon on 09 July 2017 (Fifth Sunday after Pentecost) is based on two passages from Chapter 11 of Matthew’s Gospel. He discusses how Jesus and John the Baptist were, in some ways, opposite extremes and yet both received considerable criticism for their behaviour at the time. He explains how, despite all the apparent demands Jesus places on his disciples, Jesus’ yoke for us can indeed be easy – and the burden he imposes, light.
There’s a contradiction at the heart of this: why God’s way is too little and too much for us at the same time …
Click here if you would like to download a PDF version of the sermon. Otherwise, as usual, the scripture follows immediately below, with the sermon after that.
Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30 (New International Version)
16 “To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others:
17 “‘We played the pipe for you,
and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge,
and you did not mourn.’
18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.”…
The Father Revealed in the Son
25 At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. 26 Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.27 “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 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. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
In 1978, Boney M released their famous cover version of The Melodians song, “The Rivers of Babylon”, which went to number one for five weeks.
It remains in the top ten highest-selling single records in the UK of all time.
I’m sure, if you can’t remember the lyrics, you’ll at least remember the tune which is very memorably upbeat and jaunty. It’s a happy sounding record and no doubt sold in the millions because of that.
But there’s a very real problem with it and the problem is so big that only those who are willing to suspend their thinking for a while can enjoy it. [Read more…]