July 9, 2023 – 6th Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 9)

“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest” (Mt 11:28).

What does it mean to you to be “fatigued and burdened”? (Allow people to answer if desired) We might be tired of trying to live up to our own expectations. We might be tired of trying to live up to the expectations of others. We might be burdened by guilt. Or by shame. Or by fear. We may be weary of the constant messages from our culture that we need more – more items, more friends, more whatever.

But if we read today’s Gospel message, Jesus offers us a few things. Jesus offers us rest for our souls. He offers us a yoke that is easy. He offers us a burden that is light. He offers us a relationship that is full of peace. A relationship full of joy. A relationship full of love.

And you all might be thinking right now, but how do I receive this rest that Jesus offers? Well, it’s really simple. We come to him just as we are, with our burdens and worries. We put our trust in Jesus and his promises. We follow Jesus and we learn from Jesus.

Jesus’ invitation for us to rest is a real offer. He is the only one who can truly give us rest for our souls. So if you’re tired, if you’re burdened, if you’re worn out from life, come to Jesus today!

So how can we apply this message to our own lives today? We need to start by acknowledging our need for rest. The first step to receiving the rest Jesus promises is to acknowledge that you are tired and burdened. My friends, it’s okay to admit that we aren’t perfect and that we need help. I think this is especially important for us here as the “few but faithful” who do everything around here to make sure that the church is in good shape.

Second, we need to come to Jesus just as we are. We don’t need to clean ourselves up or pretend to be someone we aren’t. Jesus loves us just the way we are, with all our flaws and imperfections. In the Episcopal church, we say “Everyone is welcome.” Sometimes we make it harder than that, but Jesus doesn’t. 

And that makes it easier to put our trust in Jesus. Trust that Jesus is able to give you the rest that you need. Believe that Jesus is the only one who can set you free from your burdens – all your burdens.

And once we’ve done that, we can follow Jesus and learn from him. As we follow Jesus, we learn how to live lives of peace, joy, and love. We learn how to carry our burdens in ways that are pleasing to God and – at the same time – don’t hurt or burden others.

My challenge to you this week is to talk to your friends and family about the message of Matthew 11:28. Share your own experiences of how Jesus has given you rest. If you want to, share your experiences on social media.

“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest” (Mt 11:28). May you find rest this coming week.