5 Pentecost Year A/ July 5, 2020
Psalm 45:11-18; Romans 7:15-25a; Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30
Consider and listen closely for the voice of God…
Consider and listen closely for the voice of God…this was the refrain before and after our psalm this morning …
Every time I read that phrase throughout this past week, prayer is what kept coming to the front and center of my mind and my heart…
Reminding me of the importance of taking time for prayer, to listen closely for the voice of God.
There are so many different voices trying to get our attention these days… voices shouting out from numerous, often conflicting sources, about the best way to address the COVID-19 pandemic; voices crying out for justice and peace for the entire human family; voices of those who still insist on oppressing the voices of the people who have been trying to tell their stories for years; there are voices which are barely audible, because they have been silenced for so long….yet they are rising up, with a voice and a song and a story to tell. There are the voices of white people, who are finally beginning to speak up and repent of the ways that we have participated in and benefitted over the years from systemic racism. There are many different voices trying to get our attention these days.
All of this can be wearying to the body, mind, and spirit….and as we grow weary, we become angry and inpatient with one another, and we stop listening to one another, we stop caring about one another, and we stop short of loving one another as Jesus has taught us.
Setting aside time for prayer, often and regularly…is an important daily practice for our health and well-being. It allows us to be in sync with the one voice, Jesus, who will strengthen us, teach us, lead us and guide us through all of the ups and downs and mountains and valleys of these turbulent and uncertain times we find ourselves in.
In prayer, it is the voice of Jesus calling to us…to come home…to lay down all of our burdens and worries for a moment and allow ourselves to be yoked, to be connected with Jesus in prayer….and to rest…and to listen…
Jesus said, “Come to me, all you that 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.”
When we take time to consider and listen closely for the voice of God, as we gather to worship and pray together here on Sundays, or at our Wednesday Noon Day prayer service, we are reminded of the ways that we are all yoked together, through the love of God, as revealed to us in Jesus. We are encouraged, strengthened, supported, and our spirits are renewed and revived, once again, through our communal prayer time, to leave this time of resting in God…to go out into our communities…proclaiming the love of God for all of our neighbors…through our words and our actions…
This balance of prayer and action, was modelled for us by Jesus throughout the scriptures….We have heard often, how Jesus stepped away for a bit to pray and rest…and it wasn’t to escape what was happening…but it was a time to listen closely for the voice of God, to be in sync with God, and God’s will… to be equipped and strengthened for the mission and work he was being called to do…
I invite you this week to reflect on your prayer practices…
Are you making time throughout the week to pause: to consider and listen for the voice of God…
Are you setting aside some time to pause to listen for Jesus’ voice…calling you home…..to lay down all of your burdens and worries for a moment and allow yourself to be yoked, to be connected with Jesus in prayer….and to rest…
Listen…listen closely…
Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling…calling for you and for me…
Come home…come home…ye who are weary…come home…
(Hymn: Softly & Tenderly/solo by Ali Hosford)
The Rev Julie Platson, Rector
St Peter’s by the Sea Episcopal Church
Sitka, Alaska