Henrietta United Church of Christ

Rev. David Inglis March 5, 2006

Matthew 11:28-30

“Burdens Down”

The part of Sarah was played by Kate Travis

Pastor: Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who 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.”

Hey you, Sarah, did you hear what I just read?

Sarah: Who, me?? Uh, yeah, I guess so.

Pastor: What does Jesus invite us to do?

Sarah: Jesus? Do?

Pastor: Sarah, what were you thinking about just then, when I was reading Jesus’ words?

Sarah: You don’t really want to know.

Pastor: Yes, really. What was on your mind?

Sarah: Welllll, okay. I was wondering how long this service is going to take, because you’ve run over two weeks in a row, and I have get my shopping and laundry done before I run over to look after my dad, who I haven’t seen since last weekend. His place is probably a mess, and I know he’ll ask me what took me so long to see him.

Pastor: It’s no wonder you’re having a hard time staying focused on what’s going on. Jesus’ words were really meant to for you today. Why don’t you come up here. Maybe Jesus can help lighten your load. Come on. You’ll be glad you did.

(Sarah comes forward carrying a canvas bag of heavy burdens–boxes with weights wrapped in plain paper).

Pastor: I can tell just by looking at you that you’re carrying a lot of weight on your shoulders.

Sarah: You can? Well, everybody has their problems, you know.

Pastor: That’s true. But yours seem pretty heavy. Do you mind telling me what burdens are weighing on you so heavily?

Sarah (putting the bag down and looking at it): Well, I’m worried about my dad. His health is failing, and he’s getting forgetful and having a hard time taking care of himself. I keep worrying about, “What if he falls, and nobody knows?” “What if he forgets to turn off the stove and starts a fire?” Lots of what-if’s. And then there’s my kids. I don’t like the kids they’re running with, and I worry about them getting in trouble. And there’s all the bills I have a hard time paying, and the funny noise the car is making that I probably can’t afford to have fixed. And I’m worried about my job. Sometimes I worry that I’ll lose it, and sometimes I worry that I’ll have to keep it. There’s just a lot in my life to worry about right now.

Pastor: I see that there is. Do you want Jesus to help you with any of this?

Sarah: Oh, so I can just hand it all over to Jesus, and he’s going to make my dad better and protect my kids from harm and turn my boss from a jerk into an angel and pay off my bills?

Pastor: Probably not.

Sarah: I didn’t think so. So what good is he, then?

Pastor: I can show you, if you’re willing.

Sarah (unsure): Wellll, all right. (Shrugging shoulders) What have I got to lose?

Pastor: Well, actually there is one thing you have to lose.

Sarah (clutching bag possessively): What’s that?

Pastor: You have to lose the notion that it’s God’s job to change the order of creation to prevent what you’re afraid of. You have to open to something bigger and better than what your fearful self wants. Do you think you can do that?

Sarah (reluctantly): I don’t know. I guess I can try.

Pastor: Okay. Let’s just try to imagine Jesus sitting right here with us looking at all those worries your carrying. Let’s see if we can open to his perspective on them.

Sarah: How do I do that?

Pastor: Well, your worried about your dad dying. Ask Jesus what death looks like from his perspective.

Sarah (tentatively): Okayyy. (Closes eyes for a moment.) Well, I guess from Jesus’ perspective, death is like a transition from being in a physical body to being a spiritual being. So if my Dad died, he would be with God surrounded by God’s love.

Pastor: Right. And you’re worried that your dad might fall and suffer some. Jesus knows something about suffering. Why don’t you ask Jesus what he has to say about any suffering your dad might go through.

Sarah: Okay. (Closes eyes for a moment.) It’s very passing. It’s like a blink of an eye in the whole scheme of things. And Jesus says that we’re never alone or forgotten when we suffer.

Pastor: That’s right. So ask him about the sadness you’ll feel when your father finally dies.

Sarah: (Closes eyes for a moment.) He says that my fear of the sadness is a lot worse than actually having the sadness. If I let myself cry, take care of myself, and trust that Jesus is right with me, it won’t be so bad, and I’ll be able to move on with my life. (Smiles.) Hey, I think I’m ready to let this worry go (takes one of the boxes out of the bad and lays it in front of the altar). I can think ahead and do what I can to help my dad, but I really don’t have to tie up my life worrying about it, what I can’t control, do I?

Pastor: Wonderful! Now why don’t you ask Jesus about your worries about your kids.

Sarah: Okay. This is a hard one. (Closes eyes for a moment.) He says that my children were given to me to help me open my heart and learn how to love as best I could. I’m not expected to be perfect, but to keep on learning as I go along, which is what I’m trying to do. All I can do now is let them know I love them and am concerned about them, support their good side, not feed their bad side, and let them learn from their own mistakes, because that’s how most people learn. They have their own lives to live now, and I can’t live them for them. Whew! (Puts another box by the altar) I’m still their mom and I’ll always be there for them, but I don’t have to carry the responsibility for living their lives, do I?

Pastor: This is great! Now how about those bills?

Sarah: Okay. (Closes eyes for a moment.) Jesus says that life is filled with gifts and blessings. I’ve been so worried about what I might not have that I’ve been missing out on all I do have. He says that whether there’s an abundance or a shortage doesn’t depend on my bank account nearly as much as it depends on my perception. The more I really enjoy what’s already in front of me, the less I’ll need to buy, and the richer I’ll feel. This is cool! Here goes another weight off my shoulders! (Puts another box by the altar.)

Pastor: And how about your job?

Sarah (closes eyes for a moment): He says that every door I leave through is an entrance into something new. If I trust that God has given me my abilities to share and I am enthusiastic to do that, why should I be worried about hanging onto a job I don’t really like? Yes!! Here goes my last big worry! (Places it by the altar). (Rolling shoulders and taking a deep breath): Whew! I never imagined that I could be free of all that weight! Wow! It’s funny. Nothing has changed--my dad’s still failing, my kids are still with the same crowd, my bills haven’t gone away, and I could still lose my job. But everything feels different. I can do what I need to do without being all tied up in knots about the things I can’t control. Thanks, Pastor! (Goes back to seat twirling the bag over her head.) Next time I’ll pay attention!

Hey you, did you hear what Jesus is inviting us to do? We can bring our burdens to him right now and learn from him. Why don’t we all take a moment and do that. Close your eyes and get in touch with some worry or burden you’re carrying. There are some aspects of this that you have control over, and some aspects that you can’t really control, but you keep worrying about anyway. Now invite Jesus into your mind. Try to open yourself to his perspective, and see what comes into your awareness.

Prayer following the silence: God of our lives, thank you that though we are bound by fear, you offer us freedom; that though we shrink in powerlessness, you offer us your presence; that though we focus on our limitations, you offer us eternity. Today, right now, may we step into the freedom and joy of your empowering presence that never lets us go. Amen.

Song: “Down by the Riverside” (adapted)

Vs. 1 I'm gonna lay down my burdens, down by the riverside,

down by the riverside, down by the riverside;

I'm gonna lay down my burdens, down by the riverside,

I ain't gonna carry them no more.

Refrain: I ain't a gonna carry them no more

I ain't a gonna carry them no more

Vs. 2 I’m gonna walk in God’s freedom now, down by the riverside, etc.