Monday, February 15
Scripture: Revelation 22:17, Matthew 11: 28-30

“‘Come.’ And let the one who hears say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price. Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

A KIND WORD FROM JESUS

Sometimes we simply need a kind word from the Lord Jesus.  At least, I know I do.

In the Anglican tradition, this gentle invitation from Jesus as recorded in Matthew is the first of four “Comfortable Words” which are repeated weekly by the congregation as part of the Communion celebration. Each week, the congregation recalls aloud to themselves and to each other Jesus’ invitation to the weary to “come”, followed by the truth of God’s sacrificial love for the world (John 3:16), the reminder that Jesus came into the world to save sinners (1 Tim 1:15), and the promise that when we become aware of our sin, we can look to Jesus as our advocate before the Father (1 John 2:1-2).  Some congregations have been saying these words week after week since the 1500’s, when they were written into the liturgy as a reminder and intentional rehearsal of the Gospel.

Now, these “Comfortable Words” are not “comfortable” in the cozy-cup-of-tea-by-a-warm-fire-on-a-rainy-day sense. Instead, in the older use of the term, they are called “comfortable” for the spiritual strength, support, and reassurance they provide. And there is a deep and enduring reassurance in these four passages that summarize the Gospel story – a grounding, centering truth around which we are invited to orient the whole of our lives. As Tomlin sings, there is peace and healing for the depths of our souls at this Communion table, to which all are invited to “come”.

“Come to me,” Jesus says to all of us who are thirsty, weary, heavy laden. And in this invitation to “come,” Jesus doesn’t mention our sinful ways. He doesn’t mention what we’ve done wrong, the spaces or places where we have turned away from God. Instead, he sees our experience of sin and ensuing guilt. He sees our hiding and covering, our attempts to avoid its felt effects. He sees the weight, the burden, the heavy yoke of our shame – and he speaks to that weary place in our souls. Jesus’ loving gaze sees it all, and he offers a gentle invitation: “I see how hard you are working. Come to me, and I will give you rest.”

I often find myself needing this kind word from the Lord Jesus. My internal voice has a tendency to be rather critical, and I find my heart to be full enough of guilt and shame. I need to see that smiling Jesus with his hand raised in blessing pictured in the illuminated manuscript, offering a hand that gently beckons and bearing a look that reflects forgiveness, peace, and hope. I need to receive these words that bring comfort in that old sense of spiritual strength, support, and reassurance – sometimes over and over again.

As you consider this gentle invitation from Jesus in Matthew 11 and Revelation 22, where do you find yourself to be weary and in need of rest? What burdens of sin, guilt, and shame are you carrying? Take some time to respond to Jesus’ gentle invitation, allowing his love to bring comfort – strength, support, reassurance - to these parts of your soul.

PRAYER

Lord Jesus, you see the places of my soul that are weary and heavy laden, filled with sin and guilt, and you have called me to come. You offer rest for my soul.
Lord God, you loved this world so much that you sent your only Son, and because I believe in him I will not perish, but have everlasting life.
Lord Jesus, you came into the world to save sinners – to save me. In your righteousness, you have become my advocate before the Father, the atoning sacrifice for my sin.
Spirit, show me the parts of my heart that struggle under the weight of sin, guilt, and shame. Give me courage to respond to your gentle invitation, help me to open these parts of my heart to your healing work, and bring your enduring comfort to my soul.
Amen.

Lisa Igram, Associate Dean of Spiritual Development