“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, 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.” – Matthew 11:28-30
It is a familiar scene at my house. Just as you walk in the front door, bags are piled up. You must watch where you step as you enter. Backpacks filled with school supplies, bags for cheerleading, cross-country, pom pom, and several other academic and extracurricular activities make it no further than the entryway of our home. We ask for bags to be moved, cleaned up and put away, but they always return.
Aimee and I are understanding of bags being dropped off in the entryway. After all, it is often a long day for everyone in our house. School starts early, often leaving the house by 7:00 a.m. and not returning till after 6:00 p.m. When they arrive at the house, they are exhausted, hungry and ready for the comfort of home. They are ready to drop those heavy bags that they have been carrying around all day. I can’t blame them.
Recently, I was looking at the pile of backpacks and bags in my entryway and I was reminded of the scripture from Matthew’s gospel. Jesus tells the crowds that they should, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, 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 does not tell his disciples that they will no longer work. In fact, in the chapter just before this passage, Jesus sends the disciples out to preach and teach. Jesus does not promise us easy days. He does offer us a place to lay down our heavy burdens.
The ease at which my daughters drop their bags in the entryway is what is available to us as children of God. Life is a long and difficult journey. We all carry burdens. The challenges of work, careers, family, along with all the struggles in our community and world, place a significant weight on our souls. Jesus knows the weight we carry, and he calls to us to come home, drop our bags at the door, and find rest and peace in His presence.
– Rev. Keith King, Pastor of Worship
