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00:22Let us pray.
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06:58Amen.
07:26They talk of vanity, everyone with his name, they do but flatter with their lips, and they stand with their
07:41double heart.
07:43The Lord shall put out all this need for his, and the tongue that speaketh from his, which has said,
07:58without the will we behave, we are there that ought to speak, oh, his law over us.
08:12Lord, for the comfort that you are who speak of the need, and because of the need is smiling, oh,
08:26I will love, saith the Lord,
08:32and we'll hear everyone from him that sweareth against him, and we'll set him as quest.
08:42The words of the Lord are pure words, even as the silver, which on the earth is tried and glorified
08:57seven times in the fire.
09:01Thou shalt keep them alone, thou shalt preserve him from his generation forever.
09:14He are dancing forth on every side when they are exalted, the children of the earth are brought to you.
09:31Look.
09:36Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost,
09:47as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be.
10:16A reading from the Gospel according to St. Matthew, chapter 11.
10:26When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their tones.
10:33Now when John heard in prison about the deeds Christ had done, he sent his disciples to ask a question.
10:41Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?
10:46Jesus answered them, Go, tell John what you hear and see.
10:51The blind see ye the lame walk.
10:53Lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear.
10:55The dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.
11:00Blessed is anyone who takes no offence at me.
11:06And while they were going away, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John.
11:11What did you go out into the wilderness to see?
11:14A reed shaken by the wind?
11:17What did you go out to see?
11:21A man dressed in fatty clothes?
11:23Look, those who wear fancy clothes are in the homes of kings.
11:28So what did you go out to see?
11:30A prophet?
11:32Yes, I tell you, I am more than a prophet.
11:35For this is the one about whom it is prison.
11:38Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.
11:44I tell you the truth, amongst those born of women, no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist.
11:51Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he is.
11:56From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and forceful people have
12:03taken hold of it.
12:06For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John appeared.
12:10If you are willing to accept it, here is Elijah, who is to come.
12:14The one who has ears had better listen.
12:19To what should I compare this generation?
12:22They are like children sitting in the marketplaces, who call out to one another.
12:27We played the flute for you, yet you did not dance.
12:31We wailed in mourning, yet you did not weep.
12:35For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, he has a demon.
12:40The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, look at him, a glutton and a drunk, a
12:46friend of tax collectors and sinners.
12:49But wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.
12:55Then Jesus began to criticise openly the cities in which he had done many of his miracles, because they did
13:00not repent.
13:03Woe to you, Chorazin!
13:05Woe to you, Bethsaida!
13:07If the miracles done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in
13:12sackcloth of ashes.
13:14But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than it
13:20will be for you.
13:22And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven?
13:26No, you will be thrown down to Hades.
13:30For if the miracles done amongst you had been done in Sodom, it would have continued to this day.
13:36But I tell you, it will be more bearable for the region of Sodom on the day of judgment than
13:40it will be for you.
13:44At the time Jesus said,
13:46I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent,
13:52revealing them to little children.
13:56Yes, Father, for this was your gracious will.
13:59All things have been handed over to me by my Father.
14:04No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son, and anyone to
14:09whom the Son decides to reveal him.
14:13Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
14:18Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you find
14:24rest in your souls.
14:25For my yoke is easy to bear, and my load is not hard to carry.
14:31This is the word of the Lord.
14:33Thanks be to God.
14:38We all have periods when our faith can be shaken.
14:43Something may happen which goes to the root of our faith and makes us question our belief.
14:49Perhaps it will be just for a few minutes, or it may be for longer.
14:54Here we read it happening to John the Baptist, and if it can happen to him, then we should not
14:58feel so bad when it happens to us.
15:03John knew who Jesus was.
15:05We only need to go back to the time when he baptized Jesus in the Jordan to confirm this.
15:10And yet, here John is sending out his disciples to ask Jesus, if he really is the one whom they
15:17were waiting for.
15:19What had happened?
15:21Of course, John had been arrested and put into prison for condemning Herod for marrying his brother's wife.
15:28During those lonely nights in prison, doubts had crept into his mind, perhaps.
15:35Did Jesus not care about what had happened to his cousin?
15:39Why had he not come for a visit?
15:41Was he really the Messiah?
15:45Jesus sent John's disciples back with a message.
15:49Tell John what you have seen and heard.
15:53Simple.
15:54Note that Jesus did not say, yes, which anyone could have said, but look at what you see and think
16:01on what you hear.
16:03In other words, don't take my word for who I am, but look for the evidence and go and tell
16:09John about what you found.
16:12So next time we feel doubt or feel alone, and our belief is shaken, pick up the Bible.
16:18Do not feel bad for your doubt, but remember John.
16:22Read what Jesus said and think about what he did and give thanks.
16:29Jesus had been discussing John the Baptist, and in this passage the conversation turns to the people at large.
16:37There was an indictment of them in general, for in any generation there are a few righteous and God-fearing
16:43people.
16:44But in this case, although many had been to see John and to hear what he had to say, few
16:49had taken any notice.
16:51In Jude, Jesus reported that the people criticised him for being so frugal and fasting constantly.
16:59What was worse, they proclaimed that he was possessed because he did not eat.
17:05Contrast this with the reaction to Jesus, who ate and drank, and was accused of being a glutton and a
17:11drunk,
17:12or being a friend to sinners and tax collectors, who were considered worse than sinners.
17:19Obviously, these accusations were certainly unfounded,
17:23for there is absolutely no reason to suspect that Jesus was not himself also frugal in his habits.
17:30But it was different in behaviour to John.
17:33The people there were being illogical, for either one was wrong, or they were both right,
17:40because they could not both be wrong.
17:43The point being, that they were looking for things to criticise,
17:47and not paying attention to what was being said by others.
17:52Indeed, these people were so spiritually dead,
17:54that neither approach was going to work for them.
17:58On the one hand, you would have thought that the austere fragility of John
18:02would have worked for many,
18:04and the more relaxed, congenial approach of Jesus
18:06would have appealed to the remainder.
18:09The fact that neither approach worked is perhaps the most damning of indictments.
18:16Sadly, we are surrounded by similar people and their attitudes today.
18:20There are many who attend church regularly, but are never happy.
18:24There is always something wrong.
18:27Perhaps they did not like the sermon, or one of the hymns.
18:31Perhaps the new priest is not to their liking.
18:34Perhaps there is some point of theology that they disagree on.
18:39Rather than setting these things aside,
18:41they try to amuse them to score points against the objects of their displeasure,
18:46in the most unhelpful and disruptive way possible.
18:51We should pray that we only have positive things to say or think,
18:54and if we do not, let the negative things go,
18:57and not make issues for our brothers and sisters in Christ.
19:03Then we have a dire warning, both for us and for the world at large.
19:09Jesus had been preaching and performing miracles in all number of towns
19:13for some considerable time,
19:15and yet there had been no change in their behaviour.
19:19Certainly there was a band of followers who had packed up their affairs
19:22and were travelling with him,
19:24but amongst the people at large,
19:25life carried on as normal.
19:28There was no mass repentance,
19:31no masses calling for baptism,
19:33just the odd household that had been touched by a particular miracle.
19:38Indeed, in some parts of the country,
19:40life was getting rather dangerous for Jesus.
19:44The point being made here is indeed a simple one.
19:48The people that Jesus had seen and preached to him,
19:51the ones that had seen his miracles,
19:53had no excuse for their unbelief.
19:55Indeed, they marvelled at his authority.
19:57We only have to look at Matthew 7, 28 and 29,
20:019, 8 and 21, 23.
20:05Why then did they not follow this up with conversion?
20:09Like most people, perhaps,
20:11they were too stubborn.
20:13Yes, I'm sure they appreciated the spectacle.
20:15They recognised something special in Jesus.
20:18But they were really not ready to abandon their comfortable ways.
20:22They were happy as they were,
20:24thinking that the welfare of their soul
20:26was something to consider later in life.
20:30In particular, they failed to appreciate
20:32that even if they went to worship in the synagogue regularly
20:36and paid lip service to the law,
20:38they would not make the great,
20:40for they were still a sinful and stubborn people.
20:46On the other hand, of course,
20:47there were the Gentiles,
20:49who recognised that they did have a problem
20:51and seemed to be far more open
20:54to what Jesus was teaching to them.
20:59Today, we have a similar problem.
21:02The majority of people will admit
21:03to believing in a God,
21:06but generally will tell you
21:07they will pay more attention when they're old.
21:10Right now, they're too busy.
21:12God is something for old people.
21:15Others, perhaps, worst of all,
21:16consider themselves saved when they are not.
21:20They go to church every week
21:22because they have always been to church every week.
21:25They know all the liturgy and hymns by heart,
21:27and are the stalwarts of the congregation.
21:32However, they do not pray at home.
21:34They never read their Bibles
21:36and they never consider their failures.
21:40It is not for us to play spot the Pharisee,
21:43for we should never judge others.
21:46But perhaps,
21:47it's time we took a long, hard look at ourselves.
21:52Surely, it must have been deeply vexing for Jesus
21:54that so many people refused to listen
21:57to what he was telling them.
21:59The majority of the crowd turned out for entertainment.
22:02Do you see what miracle he would perform next?
22:05As though he were some sort of circus act.
22:09Others came along to tease him
22:10and tempt him with trick questions,
22:13not being interested in the answers
22:15that he provided for them.
22:17Even so,
22:19there remained a small rump of people
22:21who not only heard,
22:22but listened intently
22:23and came to believe.
22:28Jesus can be seen here
22:29giving praise to his Father for these people,
22:32thanking him in all things,
22:34for it was his gracious will.
22:37Although he was driven to weep for Jerusalem,
22:40for his sinful wickedness and stubbornness,
22:43Luke 19.41,
22:46he was here able to pray in praise and thanksgiving.
22:49In this,
22:51Jesus gave us a wonderful inspiration to prayer.
22:54For rather than bemoaning the many in his prayer,
22:57he praised God for the few,
23:00thanking him for hiding the truth
23:01from the many
23:03that he might find
23:04more satisfying the love of the few.
23:07In this prayer,
23:08he was able to find comfort and encouragement.
23:12When we find ourselves set around
23:14by those who would scorn us,
23:15by trials and tribulations,
23:18let us make the time
23:19to look around
23:20and take stock of the many blessings
23:22we have received from God.
23:25Let us focus on the things that are good
23:27rather than the bad
23:28and give praise to God for me.
23:33So what is the yoke
23:34that Jesus referred us to
23:36from which our souls
23:38are so anxious for rest?
23:41Traditionally,
23:42a yoke had two sides
23:43with a recess in the middle
23:45for the head.
23:46To work,
23:47it needed weight
23:48applied equally to both sides
23:49so that it balanced
23:51on the neck and shoulders.
23:53And the weights
23:54that Jesus referred to
23:55are equally twofold.
23:57On the one side
23:58is the burden of the law,
24:00much enhanced
24:01by the tradition
24:02and customs of the elders,
24:04who instead of trying
24:05to keep the burden light
24:06and capable of being carried,
24:08enhanced it continually.
24:11And on the other side
24:12was the burden of sin,
24:14the failure
24:15of being able
24:15to keep the law.
24:18It follows, therefore,
24:19that the two are always in balance,
24:21because as the reach
24:22and the detail
24:23of the law ceremony
24:24and ritual was increased,
24:26so increased our sin
24:27because it was impossible
24:29to comply.
24:32Whilst this was clearly
24:33true for the Jews
24:34at the time of Jesus,
24:35is it still true
24:36for us today?
24:38Absolutely.
24:40Jesus might have come
24:41and presented the law
24:42to us in its simplest terms,
24:44but man in his infinite wisdom
24:46has decreed
24:47that the law of Jesus
24:47is too simple.
24:50We only need to look
24:51at the extent of canon law
24:52to know how complicated
24:54life in the church
24:55has become.
24:57For everything,
24:58there is now a timetable
24:59and a procedure.
25:01If, for some reason,
25:02these cannot be complied with,
25:04then there is a problem.
25:07This is at odds
25:08with the example of Christ.
25:09For him,
25:10everything is simple,
25:11for he is gentle
25:13and humble in heart.
25:15Christ calls us
25:16and if we accept,
25:17we are saved.
25:18As he blesses us
25:19with gifts
25:20of one thing or another,
25:21this is an endorsement
25:23of our faith
25:23and of our love for him.
25:25For he will not permit
25:26the Holy Spirit
25:27to live in one
25:28who does not love him.
25:30He does not sit with us
25:32and interrogate us
25:33nor issue us
25:34with forms to fill in
25:35and ask for fees
25:36to be paid.
25:38No,
25:38he simply asks,
25:40do you truly love me?
25:44Jesus did not tell us
25:45to expect an easy life.
25:47Quite,
25:47on the contrary,
25:49he went to great lengths
25:50to explain
25:51that we are called
25:52to a life of suffering
25:53for him.
25:54But to love him
25:55and to find comfort
25:56and strength in him,
25:58that is surely
25:59most simple
26:00and easy.
26:02for the Lord's work.
26:19We praise you, O God,
26:23in our church to be our Lord,
26:28All year thou blesses thee, O Father, ever I have seen.
26:36Through all angels' trial, thanks to God, I have seen thee.
26:45Through the earth and earth and earth and earth and earth and earth and earth and earth and earth and
26:50earth.
26:50Through all of thy earth and earth and earth and earth and earth and earth and earth and earth and
27:04earth and earth and earth and earth and earth and earth and earth and earth and earth and earth and
27:13earth and earth and earth and earth and earth and earth and earth and earth and earth and earth and
27:20earth and earth and earth and earth and earth and earth and earth and earth and earth and earth and
27:20earth and earth and earth and earth and earth and earth and earth and earth and earth and earth and
27:20earth and earth and earth and earth and earth and earth and earth and earth and earth and earth and
27:20earth and earth and earth and earth and earth and earth and earth and earth and earth and earth and
27:20earth and earth and earth and earth and earth and earth and earth and earth and earth and earth and
27:20earth and earth and earth and earth and earth and earth and earth and earth and earth and earth and
27:20earth and earth and earth and earth and earth and earth and earth and earth and earth and earth and
27:20earth and earth and earth and earth and earth and earth and earth and earth and earth and earth and
27:20earth and earth
31:05Amen.
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