July 5th Service
On Line Service due to COVID-19 Pandemic


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Saint John's Pulpit (July 5, Fifth Sunday after Pentecost) –
"You're Invited Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30

"But to what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to one another,

'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we wailed, and you did not mourn.'

For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon'; the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!'' Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.'

At that time Jesus said, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

"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."

Dance with Whom?

How could we invite people to churches? This is the most serious question for all churches in these days. Indeed, we have asked this question for a long time. To make it worse, the pandemic has brought the same question to us seriously. Many churches and Christians are asking this question: how could we bring people into churches after the pandemic? Surprisingly, from the text today, we see the same question by Jesus Christ. In this story, Jesus is calling people in his days children sitting in the marketplaces:

"But to what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to one another,

'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we wailed, and you did not mourn.' Matthew 11:16-17 NRSV

No show, no response, and no reaction… Jesus pointed out what we exactly experience in these days. Although we send out invitation cards, people do not concern and pay attention. Methods, programs, workshops, strategy, and seminars… all these words became middle names for churches today. What does it mean? Ministry and mission are never be easy ones. In the past, now and even in the future, brining people to Christ requires our prayers and patience.

The proof of the pudding is in the eating

Knowing this dilemma in outreaching, Matthew introduces two types of approaching people to deliver the Good News by John the Baptist and Jesus Christ. As we know, John the Baptist was famous for his prophetic ministry. Like monks in dessert or mountain, he separated himself from the world seeking for the truth and proclaiming the gospel.

For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon'; Matthew 11: 18 NRSV

No entertainment at all! He was always serious, harsh, and critic! Any possibility for John the Baptist’s appointment in St. John’s? Not a good matching! St. John’s likes their coffee hour! However, what did Jesus do in his ministry?

the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' Matthew 11:19a

Jesus embraced all people and assimilated himself into those whom people depreciated. What a wonderful entertainment – eating and drinking! Jesus made an avenue for all to taste the Kingdom of God in their places. Between John’s approach and Jesus’ approach, which one is better? It is very hard to answer this question. John the Baptist criticized Jewish religious group full of High-Church’s characters. To Jewish people, Jesus’ challenge was to complete the love of God instead of following the law blindly. Beyond all these debates, Jesus presents a standard how to identify a true gospel. Simply speaking, what we believe should be connected what we practice!

Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds. Matthew 11:19b NRSV

The Message version restated the same verse more fun in the following:

The proof of the pudding is in the eating. Matthew 11:19b MSG

Yes, Jesus' remark was profound, appropriate, and insightful! Don’t you think that we Christians in the 21 st century need his lesson too? What we believe means what we practice. When we practice what we believe, people will respond to our invitation.

When we are weary and carrying heavy burdens…

Let's go back to the question we shared in the beginning: how could we invite people to churches? The last three verses in the text today might be a good answer.

"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 NRSV

We easily understand that people come to churches by our invitation. But it is Jesus that invites people to churches. We all are called by Jesus. Because of His Grace, we are here. God is calling His people who are tired and worn out. Depending on how much they feel tired in their life, people decide to come to the Lord soon or later. In Christ, we can take a rest and recover. In this calling, our role is to welcome and embrace those are tired and worn out. Why? Because we were too before meeting Jesus…

As we know, recovering from the pandemic requires our deep and long breath and patience. We are tempted to lose our regular rhythm and tempo. At the same time, we are asked to choose what to do for school, office, job, church and all relationship with people. All these make us feel tired easily, emotionally, physically, and financially. Are we weary and carrying heavy burdens? If so, we know where to go. To Jesus! Hope you find a real and true rest in Christ. He is ready now. You’re invited. The only thing you need to do is to say "yes!"