7th Sunday after Pentecost Proper 9

28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

I really appreciate this text. It tells us to come to Jesus and lay our cares, our burdens, our whole selves on Him. Jesus wants to help us carry the burdens of life. Because we live in an imperfect world, because we are both saint and sinner at the same time, we will have burdens to carry. They may be burdens of illness, burdens of guilt, burdens of sorrow and grief, burdens of despair as one looses a job, whatever, Jesus says come and lay those on me. Jesus knows that we cannot handle all the cares of life by ourselves, so he says come.

We are not to be 'supermen' in our dealing with life. But we are to share those burdens and cares with Jesus. Not where does it say that Jesus expects us to be self reliant, but He says over and over again to come. Come and I will give you rest.


God has not promised skies always blue,
Flower-strewn pathways all our life through;
God has not promised sun without rain,
Joy without sorrow, peace without pain.
But God has promised strength for the day,
Rest for the labor, light for the way;
Grace for the trials, help from above,
Unfailing sympathy, undying love.

Source Unknown.

I love the above poem. For it says exactly what life is. Life is not easy, but God through Christ will be there for us.