There May Even Be Dancing

Gospel Reflection Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30

Back in the sacristy there are two framed prints with an assortment of prayers on them, one for the priest or deacon to say when they are putting on their vestments, and one to be said when taking them off. The prayer for the chasuble - the poncho-like vestment - is:

“LORD, who hast said, My yoke is easy, and My burden is light, grant that I may so bear it, as to attain Thy grace. Amen.”

A lot of clergy formation is about internalizing the fact that, when we lead worship or administer sacraments, we're doing it out of our own ingenuity, but rather that we are going where Christ directs us (at least ideally). Much of our Christian walk is learning how to feel the Spirit’s movements as we move through the world, and following them, slowly bringing our wills in line with the one who is steering us. After so many years, it seems like this image of being yoked to Christ is burned into my skull.

But what hasn’t been burned into it was the surrounding context in what Jesus was saying. Jesus was talking to the crowds, addressing some common complaints about him and his cousin John the Baptist. The religious establishment felt that John was too out there, with him living in the desert and eating locusts; they felt that he must be demon possessed because he was different. 

Jesus comes along and does almost the exact opposite, he travels and lives among the people, he parties. But even that is not sufficient because he is with the wrong kind of people. I have no doubt that had Jesus or John carried out their ministries in other ways, the powers that be would have found something else wrong with them because they were both working against the expectations of the religious establishment. Jesus calls out the hypocrisy of the standards and questions whether anyone could ever actually meet them. 

It is here when Jesus offers us the invitation of his yoke, the one that is easy and light. 

Jesus is teaching us that living by the standards of the world will never leave anyone satisfied. Instead, he calls us to turn towards God. Throughout the gospels he shows us what this looks like: loving God, and loving our neighbor. The rest, as Hillel said, is commentary.

Jesus' call is radical in that it allows us to be ourselves, to embrace ourselves. We are free to worship God as the wonderful people that God has made us to be. We are free to serve others out of our gifts, not out of whatever roles we are supposed to fill. If that means going out into the desert to eat bugs, have at it! 

At the beginning of the passage, Jesus compares the crowds to children calling out to one another that they played music, but no one danced; they wailed, but no one mourned. I wonder if there isn’t a small hint here as to what it means for Jesus’ burden is easy and his yoke is light. Jesus is not promising a life free from work or burden; these come with being human; only that the work and burdens will be lighter from the fact that we’re navigating them with God, not the expectations of others. Sometimes, Jesus will lead us into times of mourning, and in those times, we can wait and wail alongside those who mourn.

And sometimes, Jesus may steer us into times of celebration. God willing, there may even be dancing.