Introduction
In this week’s Gospel reading Jesus responds to the criticisms faced by both himself and John the Baptist from the religious leaders of his community. Jesus finds his security in his relationship with his heavenly father, and offers rest to all who are weary and burdened. In the context of today’s judgemental media and increasingly hectic lifestyles, it is vital for Christians to accept Jesus’ offer of rest even when others would scorn us for it.
Context
Labelling
Andy Murray starts his Wimbledon defence this week having announced that he and his wife are expecting their second child. Someone who has been labelled ‘grumpy’ and ‘awkward’ in the past, especially at the start of his career, is now presented in the media as a ‘happy dad’, ‘national treasure’ and so on. How much of this is down to him changing? How much is down to the labels that the media attach to him?
SATS results
The headlines following the publication of this year’s SATS results (the tests taken at the end of years 2 and 6 by all primary school children in England and Wales) show how political these results have become. Schools are now clearly labelled as ‘requires improvement’, ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ based largely on these tests. The impact of these labels, and the pressure to earn or avoid them, on headteachers, teachers and pupils has been well documented.
Rest
Grenfell Tower families have not accepted offers of intermediate accommodation. Jesus promises rest for our souls. It is worth considering how we might offer this rest to people who have lost all security (homes, possessions and loved ones) in this tragedy. The low take-up of intermediate accommodation shows people desperate for permanence and a chance to properly begin again. It is inappropriate to speak glibly of rest and peace in such situations but, from the day of the fire, local church members have been meeting with survivors of the fire, hoping that Jesus ministers something of his rest, his hope of a better future, through them.
Wisdom revealed
The situation in Brazil, where the president is waiting to hear if he will be prosecuted for corruption and obstruction of justice, chimes with Jesus’ words to the Pharisees in Matthew. Jesus calls them out for their attitude towards first John and then himself, as they rejected anyone who criticised them or suggested they were not as righteous as they felt themselves to be. In the same way, many world leaders disparage and criticise any who speak out against them, even when evidence mounts up that they are in the wrong.
Reflection
- The problem with experts
We live in a society with more experts than ever before. Every news item has an expert in the field to offer 30 seconds of information about the subject. Sadly, events at Grenfell Tower have caused people to question the motivation and expertise of the ‘wise’ people who provide leadership both in that area and beyond. - Judgemental labelling
It has been a standing joke for ten years now that Andy Murray is British when he wins triumphantly and Scottish when he loses grumpily. He is an example of someone who has been labelled many times by the media, and yet has continued to plot his own course irrespective of how people describe him. Like Jesus, our identity is in our status as children of God which will never change, whatever people might label us as. - Rest
The Tour de France might not be where you naturally look for an example of rest but the way that the teams work together is instructive. Teammates take turns to cycle in front of their main rider (e.g. Chris Froome for Team Sky) and allow him to coast in their slipstream, saving energy for the key parts of the race. Jesus offers us a similar place. He walks ahead of us and offers us a share of his strength and peace if we simply stay in step with him, receiving his ‘yoke’.
There have been many portrayals of Jesus from Jesus Christ Superstar to Jesus of Nazareth to South Park. We might think some versions are helpful and others less so, but it is clear that people have been labelling Jesus for as long as his name has been known. Sometimes Christians become irate at disrespectful presentations, but it is clear from the passage that Jesus never found his security in how other people viewed him.
Prayer
You could use this prayer after the sermon, or print it out for people to take away with them and pray daily though the coming week.
Heavenly father,
thank you that we are your children.
Whatever other people say about us or about you,
help us to trust in you,
to learn from you
and to find rest in you.
Amen.
Questions
- What does ‘rest’ look like for you? How have you experienced rest in your relationship with Jesus?
- How is the church labelled by other people in society? Should this be challenged or accepted?
- How confident do we feel in God’s wisdom versus the wisdom of the world, the experts and opinion-makers of our society? How could we increase our confidence in what we know of God’s wisdom?
Action
Think of a group of people who are, in your opinion, unfairly labelled and judged by our society (homeless, asylum seekers, young people, politicians, social-workers etc.). Discuss some ways you might meet and get to know someone from this group and determine to do this in the coming week. Feedback to the church how the label did or didn’t fit the person you met.
Young people
Hand out sticky notes and pens. Print out and display, one at a time, pictures (or just the names) of famous celebrities. Invite people to think of one word to describe that person, to write it on a note and stick it on or next to the picture. Then invite everyone to think of a single word that other people might use to label them. Write this on a sticky note and stick it onto themselves. Finally, invite people to come to the front and exchange their sticky note for one (pre-prepared) that says ‘Child of God’. Remind everyone that, however others may label us, this will always be our true identity.
Steve Taylor is joint vicar of St James, Alperton near Wembley in London. He shares the job with his wife, Ali, and they share their home with their two daughters, two cats and numerous fish.
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