Reflecting on his times and historical circumstances, Jesus asked, “To what will I compare this generation?” That’s a question that invites some big picture thinking, both in Jesus’ day and today.
There’s been a lot in the news about the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and the founding of our nation. Yesterday was Independence Day, a celebration of what America means. So, it’s fitting that we, too, ask the question that Jesus asked: “To what will we compare this generation?” This semi-quincentennial – that’s a mouthful of a word – thus invites our reflection on this time in our nation’s history.
Jesus’ assessment of his generation was not a positive one. Jesus likened his generation to children in the marketplace: “we played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we wailed, and you did not mourn.” Here’s what that cryptic statement means: the people rejected, ridiculed and did not respond in faith to the harsh but holy prophetic word of John the Baptist who invited repentance for sins. And the people of Jesus’ day likewise rejected Jesus’ own proclamation of the joyous wedding banquet of God’s kingdom. In short, Jesus basically concluded that there would be hell to pay for his generation’s rejection of the holy teachings of God.
That was Jesus’ assessment of his generation. What is our assessment of this generation in our nation’s history? Of course, it’s a mixed bag. Whole nations, like individuals, are bundles of contradictions. We are simultaneously saints and sinners. That’s true of each of us personally. And it’s true of our whole country, its history, and our present time.
But in keeping with the themes of today’s gospel passage, it may well be that we also in our day are often guilty of rejecting the hard words of modern-day prophets along with Jesus’ good news of the kingdom of God which turns upside down our finite human expectations of what God’s reign looks like.
So, as was the case in Jesus’ day, it’s also true for us today, there’s bad news and good news according to the day’s gospel reading. There’s bad news for the privileged. And there’s good news for the underprivileged, the little ones. The ones who rejected both John the Baptist and Jesus were the wealthy, privileged elites. The towns that Jesus names in the region of Galilee were prosperous and cosmopolitan and thus felt they had no need for God. They are the ones singled out for the bad news of judgment.
But then Jesus offered good news to those on the bottom of society. As he prayed, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden [the wisdom of God’s kingdom] from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed [it] to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.” (Matthew 11:25-26) The God whom we know in Christ has a tender spot in their heart for the lowly and not much patience for the powerful rulers of his day. I don’t want to spend my precious preaching time on a harangue on the rich and powerful versus the poor and marginalized in our day. I think we all can name in our minds who and what we’re talking about….
But to cut to the chase, here’s where I am drawn to go: when it’s all said and done, even those at the top are oppressed by their own power and wealth and privilege and they, too, would benefit from the good news of Christ. Everyone, rich and powerful, poor and downtrodden, needs good news. Everyone ultimately suffers from the injustices and inequalities of the stormy social realities that assault us.
For us saints and sinners, for us as individuals and us as a nation, there’s a gracious invitation when Jesus lovingly says: “Come to me, all you who 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 of heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)
I daresay, everyone, all people, in our nation, rich and poor alike, are carrying heavy burdens. We are weary. We need rest. This is a bipartisan reality!
Moreover, rich or poor, we are not very happy these days. Thus, Zechariah’s prophecy may be music to our ears: “Rejoice greatly, O daughter Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on a donkey…. Because of the blood of my covenant with you, [says the Lord], I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit. Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope; today I declare that I will restore to you double.” (Zechariah 9:9, 11-12)
In short, there’s hope for us and for our nation and for the world. And it’s hope in Christ, him dead, him raised, the triumphant and victorious one who humbly rides the donkey. For Christ is the one who rescues us from ourselves, from our sin, and the spirit of rejection of holy things of our age. As Paul concludes in recounting his frustration with his own internal struggles with sin: “Wretched person that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (cf. Romans 7:15ff, especially 24-25a) Jesus Christ was the rescuer 2000 years ago. Jesus Christ, and his ways of love and peace and mercy and humility, remain the source of rescue for us on this 250th anniversary of the founding of our nation.
But how does Christ rescue us? This is how: we receive the yoke of rescue at baptism, which initiates us into our life together gathered around and rooted in God’s word, from which we learn the gentleness of Jesus. And we rest with him around the Eucharistic table, where we are fed with his real presence and where we share also in the Trinitarian life of God in the relation of the Son to the Father in the power of the Spirit. And thus, fed and rested and renewed in faith, we then go out and serve the world in love. In our churchly mission of love, we extend Christ’s rescue to the rest of the world.
So, let’s return to our considerations of the United States of America at 250 years. I must confess that I am struggling with how best to observe the 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding. I was big time all into it in 1976 during the Bicentennial when I was fourteen years old. But given the spirit of our age and the manner in which our nation’s founding is being commandeered by our current leaders, I struggle with how best to mark 250 years of our nation’s history.
But it strikes me that a fitting and faithful way for us to honor and celebrate our nation’s 250th anniversary of founding is to do what Jesus did, namely, to offer to everyone around us the same invitation: “come to [Jesus Christ], all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens…” Learn of Christ. Learn of the ways of peace and humble servanthood. Learn of love and mercy and forgiveness and gentleness. Moreover, the Spirit beckons us to advocate for social policies that provide rest for the weary and for those carrying heavy burdens.
And then, when we engage such holy mission, all can begin to find rest for their souls. That’s a gift we as people of faith can give to our nation during this year of celebration and commemoration. And it’s quite the countercultural witness compared to the triumphalism and exceptionalism that otherwise dominate the spirit of our generation.
By offering rest in Jesus both to the least and also to the greatest of our nation who also suffer, we continue with the Spirit’s help doing Jesus’ deeds of power in our loving serving and justice seeking. Thus, we prisoners of hope announce the good news to paraphrase Zechariah: rejoice greatly and shout aloud, O daughter America! For God in Christ shall command peace to this nation, and indeed to all the nations. Thanks be to God. And God bless America. And God bless the whole human family and all of creation. Amen.
