Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30 (NRSV)
Read Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30 on biblegateway.com
Verse 16"But to what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to one another, Verse 17'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we wailed, and you did not mourn.' Verse 18For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon'; Verse 19the 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."
Verse 25At 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; Verse 26yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. Verse 27All 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. Verse 28"Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Verse 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Verse 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
Devotion
Sometimes, it seems like the weight of the world is on our shoulders. We run ourselves and our children from one activity to another. Our parents get older and need help. We worry about job stability in a still-shaky economy. Unrest in the world persists. Children are hungry and people are homeless. Our To Do list gets longer, and we have less time to get everything done. We try to take it all into our own hands and think we can fix it, but we soon discover we cannot. Jesus said "all things have been handed over to me." Ultimately, Jesus carries all these worries for us. Our task is easy. We are invited to simply trust Jesus' promise: "Come to me all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest...for my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
Prayer
Humble and gentle Lord, we offer you our worries, fear, and burdens. Take them into your hands and help us trust in your promised rest. Amen.