Mourning and Dancing

16 “But to what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to one another, 17 ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we wailed, and you did not mourn.’ 18 “For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon;’ 19 the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.”

25 At that time Jesus said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; 26 yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 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. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Mourning and Dancing

This Sunday’s reading from Matthew begins with seemingly harsh words from Jesus. He likens God’s people to children sitting around being bored. A wedding is suggested, but they don’t want to dance. A funeral is suggested, but they don’t want to mourn. Life passes them by because they don’t see what they have been given. They are unwilling to play together. They are pouty children, bored and unsatisfied, missing out on the blessings of life, and wondering when someone will entertain them.

It’s an interesting reading for this 4th of July Independence Day weekend. If we’re honest, we can admit that we, the people of the United States of America, are divided about the meaning of this country’s 250th birthday and how to honor it. Some want to party, laugh and celebrate. Others want to hide, cry and mourn. We’re not so different from those children in the story Jesus tells. We also can’t make up our minds, are often dissatisfied and continue to miss the opportunities that God offers for a better life that come through the teachings of both John the Baptist and Jesus.

John the Baptist invites us to grow out of our childish ways by following the funeral path. He comes to God’s people preaching repentance and denial of self. He invites us to die to the behaviors that hurt us or others. It’s not to make us miserable… but to set us free to become more like Christ. In dying to our selfish ways, we become more like the people God created us to be.

Sometimes grace and mercy mean denying ourselves. With Jesus’ help, we turn from those things that keep us from sharing the goodness and love of God with ourselves and others. That does not happen without the cross, without saying “No” to those things that get in the way of our relationships with God and family. Godly change doesn’t happen without a willingness to face our shortcomings. It’s painful and messy… but it’s necessary. Fortunately, we don’t do it alone. Jesus is with us. Jesus forgives us. Jesus redeems us.

When we follow the path of John the Baptist, there is mourning and loss, but there is also a celebration of life that only comes through obedience to God’s will and God’s ways. Though their tunes are different, John and Jesus are not so far apart. John demands God’s people grow up, take responsibility for their actions and live with a seriousness and concern for the world by following God’s command to love God, ourselves and others. It’s the same for our church and our country. John teaches us that God’s love and mercy flows through the death of our selfish and sinful ways.

Jesus doesn’t disagree, but he also offers a different tune. We delude ourselves if we think it’s any easier to follow than John’s path. Jesus invites us to a wedding feast. He invites us to dance and embrace the joy of God’s love and mercy. Jesus invites us to grow through a playfulness and joy that puts life in perspective. So many of the things we judge wrong miss the point. So many of the things we embrace do not serve us, our neighbor or the world. Jesus asks us to laugh and celebrate, eat and sing, as he makes the circle of God’s embrace wider and wider. He includes those we would rather not recognize and invites us to embrace all people as our neighbors. That’s part of growing up! In the laughter and the joy we discover the courage to confess, repent, make amends and change our ways to be more like Christ.

Some days it feels like we are a long way from God’s vision of what the world can be… but Jesus doesn’t give up on us! After telling the story of the dissatisfied children, he prays and thanks God for sending him to embody God’s goodness and love. He may sound discouraged at the beginning of this passage, but he knows God never gives up on us.

On this 4th of July Independence Day weekend, we are reminded that through the death and resurrection of Jesus (mourning and dancing), we are yoked to God’s goodness and love. Jesus desires to replace our childishness with childlike wonder and awe, mercy and compassion, understanding and grace. That’s what we discover under the yoke of Jesus. Jesus says, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble of heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11: 29). The yoke of Jesus provides rest for our weary country, our weary church and our weary souls. May we wear it well!