The Assurance of Sabbath Rest

"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.”

(from Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30)

The evening news stresses my soul.

I watch the 6 O'clock news and the 8-10 O'clock analysis and commentary of major events including on-location of the Ukraine War.

It's possible to disconnect from the evening news by pushing a remote button and watching "Jeopardy".

For me, that's irresponsible discipleship because I would also be disconnecting from those weary and carrying heavy burdens such as the traffic director on a road crew in the summer heat or the undocumented worker in a Florida citrus grove.

After all, Jesus taught the disciples, the weary ones were the sick and the lame, the lepers and demon-possessed, the tax collectors and sinners, the poor in spirit, the meek, the merciful, and the persecuted.

Ordinary folk labored wearily under the weight of their low social position within the Roman society based on secure wealth, status, and power at their expense. 

"Take my yoke upon you," Jesus says, and you will find rest.

Jesus' invitation is an assurance for the ordinary folk laboring wearily to find rest for their souls.

For Jesus, rest was an image of salvation, of what the world will finally look like with God’s purposes enjoying complete Sabbath.

Under Roman occupation, yokes were laid on the necks and shoulders of oxen, prisoners of war, and slaves.

Jesus is offering a liberating yoke: the assurance his teaching and way of discipleship, are life-giving, not oppressive.

Taking up Jesus' yoke is joining God’s kingdom of justice, mercy, and compassion breaking into this world, and finding the sabbath rest for which the soul longs.

Life yoked to Jesus under God’s grace and mercy, frees the burden of sin and the need to prove oneself.

The assurance of the Sabbath is resting deeply and securely in God’s grace.

Think about it: What is truly restful? What spiritual practices help you put down your burdens?