“Life wasn’t meant to be easy”.

Never have truer words been spoken—

even if they were said by a politician…

and if they were said many years ago now!

I mean, let’s face it, life is tough and it isn’t easy…

not in this hectically-paced, modern world of ours…

where everything keeps changing…

and where we’re bombarded on every side by demands—

multiple, complex, and often conflicting demands.

And, leaving aside all of the problems of the world—

such as climate change…

a devastating war in Europe…

continuing human rights abuses…

political unrest and injustice—

our lives, themselves, are full of cares and worries…

no matter who we are…

or what our stage in life is.

With inflation and rising interest rates…

there are worries for many associated with mortgages and home affordability…

not to mention the absolute dearth of rental accommodation.

For most of us, there are worries related to high petrol prices…

and the way that that affects the price of everything else—

especially food;

not to mention continually increasing home energy costs.

And for most of us there are worries associated with our families—

their financial situation;

their relationships;

their bad choices and mistakes.

Of course, there are worries about teenagers and drugs…

or depression and suicide;

there are worries for people about getting a job…

or trying to survive on social security.

For many of us, there are worries related to our health…

and whether the symptoms that we have been experiencing might be serious…

meaning we might end up in hospital, facing surgery…

or worse.

And, of course, there are worries associated with getting older…

and struggling to cope…

being forced to move out of the place that you have lived in so many years…

moving into care…

and forfeiting your independence.

There are worries about people who you love, who are dying…

and not knowing how you will cope without them.

And there are worries about even stepping out of your front door— 

and getting behind the wheel of your car—

given all the idiots on the road these days.

Demands, cares, worries—

life isn’t easy…

and it isn’t always easy to switch off, to relax, and to let go.

 

“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest”.

This saying from Matthew’s Gospel is— 

perhaps—

one of the best known and most loved in the New Testament…

because so many of us do carry heavy burdens of worry…

and most of us do yearn for genuine rest.

And, given the sort of promise of comfort that this saying seems to offer…

it isn’t surprising that it’s one that’s often used in funeral services.

But note…

it isn’t saying trust in Jesus… 

follow him… 

and he’ll make life easy and prevent anything bad from happening to you—

as if Jesus were some sort of magic pill or wonder drug…

that will make all of your worries and cares disappear.

What the saying offers is a lightening of the load—

not its removal.

“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…and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light”.

 

Nor is it saying come to Jesus…

put your trust in him…

and he will help you to bear your burden of care and worry—

despite the fact that the image that’s often used to understand this is of two oxen hitched together.

Because that isn’t what the author is referring to.

You see, in the first century, the average person—

the sort of person to whom the author addressed this saying—

was a simple peasant…

working long hours tending a small plot of land…

struggling to survive…

in a world without any form of social security system or health care system;

in a world where life was hard but very short…

and where few people would have ever seen—

let alone owned—

a team of oxen.

What this saying is referring to, then, is a plough pulled, perhaps, by a single ox… 

or, more likely, by a slave…

or, even more likely, by the peasant farmer himself.

So… 

rather than suggesting that Jesus helps us to carry our burden…

it’s a symbolic invitation to pull his plough…

to put on his yoke—

that is, a yoke that’s more comfortable…

one that doesn’t rub or irritate as much…

one that you can pull for longer with less effort.

In other words, this saying is simply an invitation to find a better way—

an easier way…

a less demanding way.

But that said, it’s not referring to life in general, but to religion. 

Here, the author is addressing ordinary people— 

simple peasants struggling to survive—

for whom religion was often a significant burden;

for whom religion had been reduced to nothing more than a sense of duty…

a huge list of do’s and don’ts…

shoulds and should nots…

oughts and ought nots.

According to some sources, in excess of six hundred of them;

and where so many of these religious expectations… 

had been formulated by those with considerable means…

and time…

and opportunity—

unlike the average person.

“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…and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light”.

 

In other words, what this passage is saying is…

come to Jesus—

all of you who find “religion” too demanding;

all of you who have been told that “religion” is about following a set of rules…

about always trying to do what’s right…

and forever feeling guilty because you’re not perfect…

and you can’t live up to everyone’s expectations…

let alone what you presume that God expects of you.

Come to Jesus—

all of you who are tired of trying to satisfy demands;

who are weighed down with all the obligations placed on you;

who are overburdened with great lists of dos and don’ts…

shoulds and should nots…

oughts and ought nots…

Come to Jesus—

rethink what you have learned;

reassess what you have been brought up to expect;

rediscover a new way of being…

of thinking…

of living.

Come to Jesus—

and discover that “religion” isn’t about dos and don’ts…

shoulds and should nots…

oughts and ought nots.

Come to Jesus—

and rediscover, through him…

or, perhaps, discover for the first time…

that God really isn’t like that…

and that that’s no way to relate to God…

or to oneself…

or to life.

Come to Jesus—

and let Jesus help you to find life;

life in all its fullness;

life as it was meant to be;

free of dos and don’ts,

shoulds and should nots,

oughts and ought nots.

And then you really will find rest for your souls.