From the collect for Proper 9: “O God, you have taught us to keep all your commandments by loving you and our neighbor: Grant us the grace of your Holy Spirit, that we may be devoted to you with our whole heart, and united to one another with pure affection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.” AMEN

It is rare that the epistle and the gospel seem to be both question and answer on any given Sunday. We read in Paul’s letter to the Romans and description of the human condition. In the past this was misinterpreted to be Paul’s lament about himself, and yes it was. But the “I” referred to in this letter applies to each and every one of us. Whether it is a second piece of cake, neglecting to write a thank you note, or not paying enough attention to someone who needs it, we all do things we wish we had not and don’t do things that we wish we had done. When Paul refers to the law he is speaking of making the law an end in itself, not the means to an end that God intended.

Though most of us were not raised in the Jewish tradition, we too have ‘law-like’ ends that we embrace. They can be material, social, intellectual or spiritual…just kinds of laws that take the place of God.

“There is the story told of a kindergarten teacher who composed a song called “Popcorn” and taught it to her students. They were all to crouch down and, at a certain point in the song, they were all to pop up. The teacher had them popping all over the room. One day during the “Popcorn” song she noticed that one little boy stayed crouched when all of the other children popped up. ‘What’s wrong?’ the teacher asked. ‘Why are you not popping up like the others?’ The little boy replied: ‘Because I am burning at the bottom of the pan.’” (Copied)

There are times for all of us when we feel like corn kernels burning at the bottom of the pan. These are the times Paul is speaking about, and the times referenced in the Gospel of Matthew when Jesus beckons: “Come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take your 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.” (Mt. 11:25-30)

This Fourth of July weekend I have been pondering the core values of our nation and comparing them with the core values of our faith. The Declaration of Independence affirmed that all persons were entitled to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. These would be understood to be core Christian values also. There is one unspoken and powerful difference, however. Interwoven in the early days of this nation and in the psyche of Americans today is the whole ‘Horatio Alger” syndrome. This is the fundamental belief that we can pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps, that all persons have an equal opportunity to life, liberty and finding happiness. It is a rugged individualist approach, one which does not pertain to all people today any more than it did at the founding of our country. If you were a slave brought from Africa or an immigrant from certain parts of the world your opportunities were not equal to those of others.

Though we no longer embrace slavery, we still harbor in this nation a prejudice against people who are different from ourselves in race, ethnicity, education, intelligence or gender. Instead of embracing “…give me your tired your poor” as inscribed on the Statue of Liberty, we are ceasing to welcome the stranger, whether that person is legal or illegal.

Jesus’ words beg the huge difference that our faith values embrace. Freedom is not just about an individual’s freedom but the freedom of all. If all are not free none of us are free. In addition, in our faith values are nurtured in the community. As the collect says, we are called to be devoted to God and united to one another in pure affection. The Gospel is for all of us, all those who suffer or feel heavily burdened. As Oemig has said: When Henri Nowen was asked to distill the Gospel of Jesus to its purest, most primitive expression – devoid of doctrine or dogma – he reflected for a moment and then said: “Come close.” (Synthesis, July 4, 1999)

Jesus is speaking to each of us saying come to God, lay your burdens down, take on the yoke of unconditional love that is there for the taking and find rest for your soul. These are the words we as the church should be saying to one another and to everyone with whom we come in contact who is in pain. Come here, be a part of a praying community, come close, turn to God and receive the rest that can only be found within the comfort of God’s arms. That is perfect freedom. This freedom makes no distinctions between people based on exterior or interior characteristics. All are welcome; all are offered the incredible gift of love. It is ours for the taking, and the offer never ends.

We know we cannot save ourselves. We know we cannot pull ourselves up by our bootstraps. We know that the law of sin most of us live under is the notion that other things can become God. We are bound together for eternity for no one will be excluded from the Kingdom prepared for us.

This holiday weekend let us remember that God welcomes each of us with all our anxieties and burdens and challenges us to welcome others into that blessed place of rest. AMEN