Saturday 27 February, Lesser Festival of George Herbert, Priest, Poet, 1633 +++ Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest

 

Psalm1│Malachi 2.5-7│Revelation 19.5-9│Matthew 11.25-30

Psaumes 1|Malachie 2.5-7 |Apocalypse 19.5-9 |Matthieu 11.25-30

Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest

This famous invitation from Jesus comes about halfway through Matthew’s telling of his ministry.   Previous chapters contain his teachings and incredible healings.   And yet despite the powerful words and the miracles, many did not choose to believe.

 

In today’s passage Jesus acknowledges that understanding his truth is not a matter of intellect (‘you have hidden these things from the wise and learned’).  And he gives us a glimpse of the source of his power and love in the intimacy between the Father and the Son.

 

And then he issues that beautiful, gentle and timeless invitation … Come to me….

 

God will not force our faith,  and love cannot be imposed, only offered.

 

Often we find ourselves holding back from God,  we feel we should clean ourselves up before trying to look him full in the face.  Or that we should read up a bit more, be more knowledgeable about this God-stuff before getting in too deep.

 

But that’s the point.  In his supreme understanding of our humanity, Jesus knows that life is heavy, that we often feel tired, confused, small, weighed-down, never quite meeting the necessary standard.

 

While the world speaks of self-improvement and productivity, Jesus – eternally radical -  offers us rest for our souls.

 

So,  come on friends.   That invitation is for each one of us.    Whether you’re a ‘mature Christian’ or a newbie,  let’s keep it simple today,  and admit how weary and burdened we are.

 

It’s time to let ourselves be loved.

 

Mags Bird

 

The George Herbert Memorial window at the Church of St Andrew, Bemerton, nr. Salisbury

By Weglinde - Own work, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=19881004

Editor’s note: George Herbert (3 April 1593 – 1 March 1633) was a Welsh-born poet, orator, and priest of the Church of England. His poetry is associated with the writings of the metaphysical poets.. He went to Cambridge in 1609, intending to be a priest, but instead he became the University's Public Orator. He served in the Parliament of England in 1624 and briefly in 1625.

 

Herbert gave up his secular ambitions in his mid-thirties and took holy orders in the Church of England, spending the rest of his life as the rector of the rural parish of Fugglestone St Peter, just outside Salisbury. He was noted for unfailing care for his parishioners, bringing the sacraments to them when they were ill and providing food and clothing for those in need. Henry Vaughan called him ‘a most glorious saint and seer’. He was never a healthy man and died of consumption at age 39. (From Wikipedia).