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Suzanne Beamer
The Church of the Nativity and St. Stephen’s
Sixth Sunday after Pentecost, Year A, Track 1, Proper 9
http://www.lectionarypage.net/YearA_RCL/Pentecost/AProp9_RCL.html
Audio: /documents/Morning_Prayer__July_9__2023
Video: https://youtu.be/ki92wdbUz9A
May the words of our mouths and the meditation of our hearts be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord our strength and our redeemer. (You may be seated). 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 of heart, and you will find rest for your soul, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
When I first read the Gospel for today, I thought, what am I going to talk about.
I normally come to Church to have my spiritual tank refilled. My yoke is easy and burden is light. Who would have ever thought that driving out to the Hoover Farm to get Jill to cosign some checks, would have sparked an idea about the Gospel. Driving over the country side, I saw the planted fields, but I didn't see any oxen. An episode of "Little House On The Prairie" came to mind. Pa had an accident and couldn't get the fields ready for planting. Ma and the girls went out to work in the fields. If the fields weren't planted, Pa wouldn't have the money to pay for the oxen. The oxen were kept together with the yoke, the stronger ox leading the weaker ox until the plowing was completed. There are times in life where we may be the stronger part of the yoke.
Our relationship with God is much like the oxen. If we are weak, we are more likely to tumble into sin. In Romans, Paul writes that the wages of sin is death. If we have Christ as the stronger yoke of our relationship, and we tell others we love the Lord, we are more likely to obey his commandments and we will be saved.
Scripture tells us that many people were unhappy with John the Baptist, too much of a downer and that Jesus was a drunkard, a party animal. It was the common folk that truly understood Jesus. They were Jesus's followers. John writes
'For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.' (1 John 5:3).
Our relationships with people are much like that of the oxen. Depending on a certain situation, one person is the stronger link and helps the weaker link along. The important thing to remember is that both people must work together. Such is our our relationship with GOD. In our faith, to be the stronger link, we must obey the Gospel of Christ and dedicate our selves to the Lord.
Let Us Pray:
O God, who hast taught us to keep all thy commandments by loving thee and our neighbor, Grant us the grace of your holy spirit, that we may be devoted to thee with our whole heart, and united to one another with true affection through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reignth with thee and the same spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
There's a hymn that is appropriate for this lesson.
I must tell Jesus all of my trials;
I can not bear these burdens alone;
In my distress He kindly will help me; He ever loves and cares for his own.
I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus! I can not bear my burdens alone;
I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus!
Jesus can help me, Jesus alone.
O how the world to evil allures me, O how my heart is tempted to sin! I must tell Jesus, and He will help me Over the world the victory to win.
I must tell Jesus,! I must tell Jesus! I can not bear my burdens alone;
I must tell Jesus, I must tell Jesus!
Jesus can help me, Jesus alone.
Amen
