The other week, in preparation for Bible Study, I came across something interesting.  (Side Bar: In my week to week reading, study and prayer in scripture, I am continually amazed, humbled and touch by God’s Word.  To be in God’s Word is to be in life with God.  I continue to encourage you to spend time in study and read God’s Word with others.)  Our Bible study is in Matthew and in chapter 11:29-30 we read, “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.” (NRSV)  As a child of God who grew up in the city, I have very little knowledge about “yokes”.  So I did some research and study on “yokes”.

            In a New Testament commentary series by William Barclay, in his Matthew commentary, he shared a legend I was not familiar with.  The legend is that Jesus, being raised in the home of a carpenter was known in Galilee for his ability to make the best yokes available.  If you wanted the best, the most perfect fit for your animal, you went to Jesus because the yokes he created were of perfect fit.  Throughout my years of considering Jesus as a carpenter, I have always had images and visions in my mind of Jesus making tables and chairs and feed troughs and maybe a wagon or cart.  But never in my imagination did I consider Jesus making a yoke.  But you know what??  It makes a great deal of sense that Jesus would craft perfect yokes, and in this new consideration, my vision and image of Christ was transformed once again.

            The reason I share this is because I consistently find that when I am in study and find myself seeking to be in God’s Word, my image, my vision, my relationship with Jesus is constantly growing, changing and becoming fuller and richer.  Often times, my involvement with God’s Word and with other disciples of Christ who are in His Word, I find my understanding and love of Christ to grow.  When the visions and images of Christ I carry are transformed by Christ, I grow in faith, love and hope.  And this is to live life.

            Though I have studied the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew with some of the finest scholars in the Lutheran tradition and have studied  writings from others outside our tradition, this time around, the Lord has revealed something extremely important.  This important revelation is that as my image, understanding and relationship with Christ grows, my image, understanding and relationship with the Church grows.  For Matthew, there is little distinction, if any, between the two.  For when we are informed that we are the Body of Christ, we must hold this to be sure and true in our hearts, words and actions.  We are the Body of Christ only because the Spirit of Christ has drawn us together and continues to empower us to witness the Risen Christ presence in our world.

Pastor Dan
Contact Pastor Dan at: pastor@mtzionelca.com