Matthew 11:28-30
Introduction
In her seminar, “The Power of Vulnerability” Dr. Brene Brown talks about cultivating authenticity, connection, courage, and resiliency. In one session she tells about the time when Hurricane Ike hit Texas where she and her family live. For more than two weeks in late September after the storm, their home was without power, roads were difficult to traverse because trees were still down and there were no working traffic lights. And late September in Texas is still plenty hot at 90-95 degrees and 100% humidity, which means, Brown explains, you have to sleep with the windows open but “the mosquitoes were as big as your fists.” Add in, both her young children came down with strep throat.
It was at this two week mark when a good close friend, who happens to be a trained and licensed therapist, calls Brown and asks, “How are you doing?” To which Brown answers, “I am really good. I am so grateful. Things could have been so much worse. Because you know people in Galveston and the bay area lost their houses—literally. So it could have been worse. We have a generator, so really, we are ok. I am just really grateful.”
To which her friend, and trained and licensed therapist, retorts, “Pants on fire.” And Brown responds, “What? What do you mean?” Her friend: “Oh. My. God. Save that line for other people. How are you…really?” And with that bit of true friend-encouraging safe space, Brown sounds off. “I am so angry! And I am hot. And I am covered in mosquito bites. And this is bull… I can’t do laundry. The kids are sick, we don’t have any good food…” on and on Brown vented, and her friend listened.
Then, after some time, the friend said, “Yeah, ok. So tell me then…” Now you’re probably thinking, this trained, licensed therapist is going to say something deeply wise and profound to sooth and comfort her friend. And you’re right. She does. But it’s not what you think, so brace yourself. The friend says, “Yeah, ok. So tell me then… Who would you kill?” And Brown again sounds off. “Oh my god. I would totally kill these three people. Kill them. Dead. And then I would leave their bodies in the backyard to attract the mosquitoes away from my house.”
The friend then said, “Awesome. Now, tell me what else would be awesome.”
“A shower, and then coming out of the shower into an air conditioned house.”
“Oh, that does sound good. Ok. What else?”
And in a changed tone, Brown says, “Well, actually, that’s it.”
“Ok then. Now… How do you feel?”
“I feel better. Stronger. I can do this.”
“Yeah. Save that whole ‘I’m grateful’ thing for someone else. You just had a hurricane go over top of your house, you have sick kids, no electricity, no fresh food— you get to be tired and frustrated. But you can do this. You are strong.”
*******
Brown and her family and the community were tired and frustrated—they were carrying a heavy burden. Do you think they needed rest? Of course.
We know the need for rest. Maybe not in the “a hurricane just went over my house” kind of way, but we know what it feels like to be so tired, frustrated, and angry that we can think about the unthinkable. Fear and brokenness cause such too. But we only think about it—we wouldn’t. And Brown wasn’t going to kill anyone. Her friend wasn’t encouraging her to do so. She asked such an extreme question because extreme circumstances require extreme efforts and methods to help others find rest, strength, peace—find the capacity to say, and believe, “I can do this.” As people of faith we don’t ask “who would you kill?” but we do say something just as extreme…“Come to me, all you that are weary, and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”
Move 1
I love this text for so many reasons. And because I do, if you’ve been to any funeral I have officiated in recent… years, chances are good you have heard this text. I use it frequently because these words of Christ are true and relevant in times of death—bodily death for sure— but also in times when we are dying inside because the varied circumstances of life around us are crushing us with a weight and burden we cannot hold. These words of Jesus remind us he is stronger than any burden, and he can and will give us rest. And while in this text Jesus says “Come to me…” we know Jesus also went to where the weary, the troubled, the tired, the angry, the frustrated, the scared, the lost, and held space for them where they were so those who were carrying heavy burdens—those who were being crushed by heavy burdens— could find rest.
Rest. When life’s varied circumstances become such that we are weary, troubled, tired, frustrated, angry, scared, lost, and no longer have the strength to carry life’s heavy burdens, Jesus gives rest. And that rest comes in different ways. Rest comes when the soul returns to God, for sure, but the rest of Christ comes to the here and now, where we are, in all of life’s varied circumstance, by those who know what Jesus can do, and who are willing to help share his invitation to… “Come to me, all you that are weary, and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”
Move 2
On the night of December 10 to 11th, exactly two weeks before Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, deadly tornados tore across western Kentucky. The destruction left in the wake of these storms was unthinkable. Especially to the town of Mayfield, Kentucky where First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is located.
With a church building and sanctuary not all that different from ours, First Christian Church of Mayfield is a church that has stood and ministered and offered sources of hope, peace, joy, and love—sources of rest—for generations.
This was First Christian Church of Mayfield on the morning of December 10th. And this was First Christian Church of Mayfield on the morning of December 11th. What had stood for decades, knocked down in moments. What had been a church, safe space, a place of rest for countless people was gone. And yet… amongst the rubble, dirty but otherwise unscathed, stood this… the communion table and cross that sets upon it. Looks familiar doesn’t it? “Come to me, all you that are weary, and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”
Move 3
In the days following the devastation crews representing media outlets from around the world descended upon Mayfield, Kentucky, and frequently interviewed was the pastor of First Christian Church, Rev. Dr. Milton West. In one interview, famed Today Show anchor Al Roker asked Dr. West, “How have you counseled your parishioners as we’re getting ready to celebrate Christmas and there’s not a lot to celebrate right now?”
In response Pastor West said, “I guess that depends on your perspective. Our faith gives us reasons to experience joy. All the normal emotions you go through when you lose something of value– your spiritual home for lack of a better term– what you try to do is reframe and rethink what it all means and not over interpret it.
There are a lot of people out there who would say this is a sign from God that something is wrong. We do not embrace that notion at all. Our faith is positive and God is never the author of bad things in people’s lives. So we grieve, we cry, we hug, and we pull ourselves together and we take the next step in trying to recover.”
*******
“Come to me, all you that are weary, and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”
Move 4
On Tuesday, December 14, Kentucky Regional Minister Rev. Dr. Don Gillett visited several communities in Kentucky impacted by these tornadoes and storms, along with staff from Week of Compassion. Among the places they travelled was First Christian Church of Mayfield, Kentucky. They also went to the site of a church member’s home that was destroyed in the storm. On this pastoral visit they shared prayers and words of support that had been offered by so many from across the wider church. Additionally they visited with leaders from First Christian, Princeton and First Christian, Dawson Springs who were already in Mayfield, helping to sift through the debris and recover personal and sacred items from the destruction.
Dr. Gillett reflected, “In my visit, it was hard to see the devastation the storm had left… to see homes wiped out and families displaced. But in that, I felt the spirit of God moving in the resilience and strength of the people; and the resilience of the church to continue to be the church by sending out crews…by being a presence of Christ’s hope, compassion, empathy, and love. Even with the church that was destroyed, First Christian of Mayfield, I saw hope. I saw joy. Even in the midst of the despair, I saw Christ being displayed. We know it’s going to be awhile, but we know with Christ, all things are possible.”
*******
“Come to me, all you that are weary, and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”
Conclusion
With Christ, all things are possible. Including… rest. But in extreme circumstance, extreme efforts and methods are required to help others find the rest they need so they can find the capacity to say, and believe, “I can do this.”
And this truth becomes so very important for us to hear again today because this is the partnership, the ministry, the possibilities we help make possible when we support the efforts of Week of Compassion— the relief, refugee, and development mission fund of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
Week of Compassion is more than a week. It is a ministry of the whole Church, reaching those in need around the world, around the year. Any time Week of Compassion responds to a need—be it in the United States or anywhere in the world— together we bear witness to the unity of Christ’s communion table… a table that embodies the life, death, resurrection, and invitation of Jesus who says, “Come to me, all you that are weary, and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” Amen.
Pastoral Prayer, February 20, 2022 WeekS of Compassion
Living and loving God, we come to you as one people with many backgrounds, traditions, gifts, and callings. We gather to celebrate our oneness, to remember Your Son’s devotion of complete love to all humankind, and to give of what we can to sisters and brothers across our nation and world who find themselves in need.
God of love, you created us to love you and one another. We confess we have sometimes limited that love to words and failed to make that love real by our actions. We confess we have failed to recognize Christ in the hungry, the thirsty, the homeless, the naked, the incarcerated, the refugee, and the sick. We confess we have too often turned away from your presence, believing there is little to nothing we can do, failing to share what we have with our brothers and sisters in need.
Forgive us Lord. Forgive us for holding back our love. Forgive us for limited actions. Forgive us for looking the other way, and believing we are not enough to make any kind of difference.
Forgive us, then turn our hearts and guide us to follow in your ways anew, so that where you are, we are; and where we are, you are.
Challenge us to include those who are in need in our prayers and through our generosity, whether here in our own community or on the other side of the globe. May we always be striving to serve, as Christ serves, those recovering from a disaster; fleeing as refugees or asylum seekers; suffering as victims of violence in any form; attempting to avoid the daily grind of poverty.
Call upon us to share what we have so that others may receive what they need to live the abundant life Christ offered us all.
Dare us to be where you would have us be, offering hope and love with compassion, as Christ has shown us.
We ask for you to listen now to the prayers deep within our hearts as we offer them in this time of holy silence…
All this we pray in the name of Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior, who taught us to pray saying, “Our…”