Toots and Tears
Good Morning Friends,
I guess we all play social, economic and even religious games according to our setting and to our generation and privileged status of being part of a group. Given the traditions to which we become accustomed, we make a set of choices about what constitutes accepted behaviors and tend to follow a set of values for our lives, with unspoken expectations of others, even if they do not claim these customs as their own. We expect that people will follow our social cues. It is double edged. The reality is that we expect others choices will fit ours or at the very least not place restrictions on our decisions. The problem is that life is not so simple, too often, people’s expectations are unreasonable. Their values, emotions and frustrations are different from ours, prompting and sometimes demanding a response from us that is difficult. Sometimes one group engages us in one childish game when we are playing another. The result is not only confusing but becomes a great diversion. Here we need to ask if our actions justify condemning those who are not acting as we act. Friends, when we are at risk of become obstacles to others faith it is a time to attend to what matters most. So, today we seek to love others with wisdom in the perfect rest of Christ’s clear communication here on the parade at the corner of Toots and Tears.
Scripture: ‘But to what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the market-places and calling to one another, “We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we wailed, and you did not mourn.” For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, “He has a demon”; the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, “Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax-collectors and sinners!” Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.’
Matthew 11:16-19 (NRSV)
At that time Jesus said, ‘I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.
All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. ‘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.’
Matthew 11:25-30 (NRSV)
Message: You cannot please everyone. Some people want to nitpick and nothing is going to please them no matter what. In today’s scripture Jesus brings to light how childish and unproductive this type of behavior is in the world and in the Kingdom as well. Using rivalry between John the Baptist’s followers and his own as an example, Jesus portrays the silly consequences for adults as being the equivalent to children playing their version of adult customs for weddings and funerals. The children do not joining in the others game. They call each other names and fail to communicate clearly. Jesus identifies these needless quarrels as similar to irrelevant diversions from what really matters. Friends, we do not have to look too far before we can find modern equivalents that divert us from doing good works. It is an embarrassing realization that this is only different in scale to the tensions between modern nations, and which at times have spilled over into warfare. This should cause us to step back and wonder to ourselves how much of the principles of Jesus are internalized by those who claim to be his followers in our own political tribes.
Here opinion polls do not count for much. Too often we get a false wisdom that tricks us into thinking we know something we do not. The burden of alienation takes many forms and how we communicate a desire to help may reflect the very nature of our community we call church. If we reject Jesus’ yoke my guess is that we are doomed to fail to communicate in a way that creates desired results. So are we part of a generation that is not happy with anything? Are we just tooting our own flute in fear of a funeral?
Pray that we learn how to communicate. Pray we learn how to listen to God through His Word and through the Holy Spirit. Pray we learn to listen to others reflecting the Christ in them. Pray we are more gracious. Pray we realize that our drive of being perfect and expecting it of others heaps a burden on us we cannot ultimately bear. Pray we choose the easy fit, well-worn, smooth way of Jesus for us. Pray we realize the difference between man’s demands for perfection and those of God. Pray we are equipped for peace. Pray we hear with our heart. Pray we apply God’s word to our lives. Pray we realize the obstacles we create when we have a judgmental heart. Pray the patterns of submission we support do not quell a call to relevant action. Pray we dance with Jesus.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 