July 9th’s gospel (Matt 11:16-19, 25-30) continues a discussion that began earlier in the chapter. That narrative is key to understanding the contextless start of the passage selected by the lectionary. A precis of the opening verses follows.

When John heard, in prison, what the Messiah was doing, he sent his disciples who said to him, ‘Are you the one who is to come or are we to wait for another?’ Jesus answered, ‘Tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. And blessed is anyone who takes no offence at me.’

As they went away, Jesus began to speak about John: ‘What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?…Someone dressed in soft robes? Those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written,

“See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,

    who will prepare your way before you.” (Malachi 3:1)

Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist;... For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John came; and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. Let anyone with ears listen! (Matt 11:2-15)

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This morning’s gospel begins here, with John the Baptist still the reference point.

‘But to what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the market-places and calling to one another,

“We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;

    we wailed, and you did not mourn.”

For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, “He has a demon”; the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, “Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax-collectors and sinners!” Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.’…

Jesus played the flute…he invited people by curing the blind, the lame, the lepers, the deaf, raising the dead, and preaching good news to the poor. But many people refused the invitation. John, with his ascetic lifestyle, tried a different strategy; he wailed…he cried out desperately for the people to repent. But they did not.

Jesus told his critics, ‘You can’t have it both ways. You can’t complain that John’s message was too harsh…neither eating not drinking… and mine is too lax… a friend of tax-collectors and sinners! The truth is: you don’t want to listen. Quit being so capricious!’

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At this point the lectionary skips verses 20-24, continuing warnings from Jesus. Here is a synopsis.

Then he reproached the cities in which his deeds had been done, because they did not repent. ‘Woe to you, Chorazin and Bethsaida! If Tyre and Sidon had seen the deeds of power done in you, they would have repented…. On judgement day it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon than for you.

And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades. For if the deeds of power done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I tell you that on the day of judgement it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom than for you.’

These skipped verses switch Jesus’ condemnation to the societies who ignore the signs he worked.

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As the gospel for July 9th continues, Jesus pauses to reflect in prayer. He changes his focus, from those who have ignored his signs and John’s message of repentance. His attention turns to gratitude for those who have heeded his words and he comments, aloud.

Then Jesus said, ‘I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

Father and Son are absolute terms here. It is not a simple parable about ‘a father’ and ‘a son’ but Jesus’ Father and himself, the Son. Jesus wants people to realize that the mutual knowledge of the Father, Lord of heaven and earth and Jesus is complete… no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son. Then Jesus makes his role as the revealer of this knowledge clear…and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

There’s an ironic tone in this chapter. Jesus had already noted that the same people who complained about John being too harsh, complained that he, Jesus, was too lax. Here he says the so-called wise and intelligent…the Scribes and Pharisees… are not wise at all. They’ve missed the point of his signs and teaching. But the simple folk understood and responded. Throughout the gospel, the smugly self-assured miss his message while the humble people respond to it.

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The gospel for this morning concludes,

‘Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 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. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’

Jesus’ own gentle, humble style contrasted with the overbearing manner of the religious authorities. Jesus would say, later, The scribes and Pharisees…tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger. (Matt 23:2-4). Refreshment and rest are meant to be part of following Jesus.

In Judaism, the yoke image was associated with wisdom. In Sirach 51:26 the sage says Put your neck under her[wisdom’s] yoke, and let your souls receive instruction; it is to be found close by. Borrowing on this connection of a yoke and wisdom, Jesus said that his yoke is easy and his burden is light.

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  • How do you reconcile John’s asceticism…neither eating nor drinking, calling for repentance …and Jesus’ spirituality… eating with taxpayers and sinners, turning water into wine? Were they different approaches to the same life before God? Did Jesus have a different mission? How hard was it for John’s disciples to leave him and follow Jesus? (John 1:36-39)
  • Imagine that you are directing a movie of Christ’s life. When it comes to the passage, ‘I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him…what directions do you give to the person playing Jesus? Where are the pauses? Where is he looking? What is he doing with his hands? How does his voice rise and fall? Take a moment to reimagine the scene in detail.
  • As you seek to translate faith into your daily life, do you experience the disciplines of following Jesus to be a burden, at least in some ways? If so, try looking at the most difficult part and ask yourself 1) how you have benefitted by carrying that load and 2) how has the community has benefitted.

Peace

Michael