All Who are Weary
“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 11:28-30)
These words from Jesus have long been a source of comfort and assurance. These are the words that I memorized as a Sunday School student. These are the words that I am privileged to pronounce when a stole is placed upon the shoulders of a brand-new pastor in the Service of Ordination. I was most recently blessed to speak these words when Pastor Melanie Forrey was ordained on January 6, 2024, at Zoar Lutheran Church in Perrysburg. These are also the words that were spoken, when a new red stole was placed on my own shoulders almost 28 years ago by Bishop James Rave. I can still hear the echo of his strong, deep voice, “Come to me all you that are weary…”.
In these verses from St. Matthew, Jesus promises to give rest to those who are weary and burdened. And that word, weary, is a word that strikes me. Jesus doesn’t use the word tired, but the word weary. And there is a difference between being tired and being weary. When you’re tired a good night’s sleep brings needed refreshment and relief. When you’re weary, it takes more than a good night’s rest, it takes the rest that only Jesus can give, which is a rest for the soul. “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” (Matthew 11:29). So may you find rest in the one who calls you to come to receive the love and the rest that only Jesus can provide.
Let us pray, “Blessed Jesus, we are weary, and we are burdened, Carrying so many worries and cares. And then you bid us to come to you. To learn from you. To love like you. Lead us to be gentle with ourselves and others. Help us to be humble in heart. That in you, always and ever in you, we may truly find rest for our souls. This we pray in the name of Jesus. Crucified and Risen for the world”. Amen
An Unresolved Ending
“He [Paul] lived there two whole years at his own expense and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance” (Acts 28:30-31) I know many of you are enjoying a few last...
A Servant Leader
“If you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday. The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your needs in parched places, and make your bones strong; and...
Tending to the Fruit
“By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control…” (Galatians 5:23-24a) I can feel it rising. Like the thermometer in my backyard, during these dog days of summer, I can almost see it...
Reading and Walking
“But we sailed from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days we joined them in Troas, where we stayed for seven days” (Acts 20:6) In the Book of Acts chapter 20, we read about St. Paul’s travel itinerary, as he concludes his Third Witness trip and...