Jesus and Broccoli?

 

I have always given thanks that Episcopalians do not typically put the title of this week's sermon on a sign.  But if we did then - well you get the idea.

So did I preach about Jesus and Broccoli?  Well sort of!  My sermon is further down the page.  The YouTube version will be on our website and right here in a day or so.  

But - Jesus and Broccoli??  This was one part of my prayer and prep this week that was somewhat of an AHA moment.  

Do I believe in Jesus as much as I believe in broccoli?

I couldn't resist putting that in green - wretched man that I am?  The thing is, I think I need to eat better.  And that got me to thinking.  I don't know that I have ever doubted broccoli.  You tell me broccoli is healthy and I don't question you.  I have no idea how it is healthy or how it somehow benefits me.  I don't doubt broccoli.

So why do I doubt the God of all creation including green leafy vegetables? 

Sure there are the "Churchy-sounding" answers like because God loves me so much.  But I don't always believe that otherwise I would share that love a lot more than I do.

This week I am going to think about broccoli and Jesus more.  Let me know if you crack this mystery of the faith.  In the meantime, here is my sermon from Sunday, July 9 at Saint Luke's in Birmingham.

Proper 9A, July 9, 2023

Romans 7:15-25a, Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30

Saint Luke’s

 

       I believe - there is a YouTube video for everything.  If you don’t know how to do something, someone out there can show you how.  For instance, the ice dispenser on our refrigerator door has a seal that is worn out.  I found at least a half a dozen videos showing me step by step - how to fix it. Phyllis asked me to figure out how to make something work on her new Ford Explorer.  No less than THREE videos highlighted the button to push on the computer screen PLUS they told me more things to try that I didn’t even know - I didn’t know.  And believe it or not, you can find YouTube videos that will tell you about other YouTube videos that you just might want to watch and learn something else new.

        Now in case you are wondering – YES – there are YouTube videos on living the Christian life.  Oh they make it look easy.  But for me - living the life of faith can be CHALLENGING.  We hear - LOVE your neighbor – PRAY – have FAITH – BELIEVE!  We’ve seen others do it and it looks easy.  And to hear our reading this morning from the Gospel of Matthew – it sounds as if Jesus is telling the disciples that the yoke of the Christian life is EASY – so why doesn’t it seem that way?

        Much of the time I feel more like our reading from the Epistle to the Romans.  The Apostle Paul says to the Christians in Rome: 

“I do not understand my own actions.  For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing that I hate…  Wretched man that I am.” 

With all the best intentions, I make New Year’s Resolutions – give up bad habits for Lent – come to Church - and make promises to God that I won’t do this or that - AND that I will do what I know I should be doing, - but then I end up going right back to what I was doing in the first place – WRETCHED man that I am.  

And the temptation is to give up and quit trying.  Maybe - I can’t live the Christian life.  From there it’s easy to convince ourselves that we might actually never really be holy or spiritual or loved by God.  Why else would we have all these cares and concerns on us like all the burdens of the world?

        Recently I watched a National Geographic special on hiking the Appalachian Trail.  The trail is 2181 miles over 14 states stretching from Georgia to Maine.  The scenery is spectacular.  The journey takes usually between 5 and 7 months over steep terrain and across rivers and streams.  Less than 1 in 3 hikers make it from beginning to end.  Most give up!  And the number 1 reason they DO quit - is because they carry too much stuff – stuff they soon realize they don’t need for the journey.  Their burden is too heavy, and it doesn’t take long before they wear out and give up.

        Jesus says to us, come unto me all you who are heavy laden – for my yoke is easy and my burden is light. 

     We hear this scripture lesson from Matthew, and IF it sounds like we must be doing something wrong because our burdens don’t seem very light - then MAYBE we are!  How much extra stuff in life do we just keep carrying around AND carrying around - thinking these are my burdens and there really isn’t much I can do about it. 

        But Matthew wants us to know that the yoke IS EASY because Jesus carries the burdens - and that begins to happen when we LET GO.  I know it sounds CLICHÉ BUT it takes the weight off and makes the Christian life a JOURNEY OF FAITH rather than a JOURNEY of TRYING to do it ALL ourselves.  The hardest part FOR us - is trusting God to work – in US. 

       Think about all the things you accept on Faith in your life.  Recently I have started thinking that I need to eat better.  You know, substitute broccoli for fried chicken.  I have no trouble believing broccoli is good for me.  Google says it’s full of vitamin C and K and fiber.  I have never seen Vitamin K and have no idea what fiber looks or sounds like, but I believe it is in the broccoli and better – much better for me than – fried chicken. 

     I also believe the money in my wallet works – that when I go to Publix and give it to the cashier – she will accept it.  Write down all the things in life you accept on faith and ask yourself why you believe it is so.  Are you willing to believe in Jesus just like broccoli?

    My yoke is easy and my burden is light.  The scripture tells us again and again that when we hit our knees and offer our lives to the love and service of our Lord - we will rise feeling much lighter – forgiven and loved.  When we feed the hungry – call the person who needs to hear from us – and pray – we will experience the light of Christ running through our soul.  The journey is easier and the burden lighter.  We begin to experience the Peace that passes all understanding – day after day.  The Savior becomes more real to us. 

You don’t need a YouTube video and it’s even better for you than broccoli.  Jesus invites us - Come to me, all you that are weary and carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.  Amen.