the 'no fuss, no muss' Gospel?

Zoe hasn't been sleeping all that well lately. She's up several times through the night, and then up again at the crack of dawn.

This schedule does have its advantages. No more pesky pleasant dreams. No more tossing and turning. And, I'm getting to catch up on my early morning television.

The other morning I turned on the tube around dawn and caught the last few minutes of a particularly lame infomercial. "Six Second Abs." Six Seconds? A couple years ago I remember a product being out there called "Eight Minute Abs." Now they're down to six seconds. Wow.

Of course, "Six Second Abs" was being pushed by toned, tan, and youthful men and ladies who of course had incredible abdominal muscles. They were saying that if you used their workout machine you'd have perfect and attractive abs 'quickly,' and 'simply.'

The absurdity of these claims reminds me of weight loss pills which advertise themselves by saying that all you need to do is take their pills and the weight will melt off. No dieting or exercise necessary.

Quick. Easy. No fuss, no muss.

I don't know about you, but I've found that most things that are worth something aren't cheap and easy. And so, I'm wary about anything that tries to convince me how cheap and easy it's going to be.

And so, I wonder about this morning's Gospel lesson in the same way: 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.

Jesus' yoke is easy? His burden is light?

Wasn't it just last week (and just a few verses before this lesson in Matthew's Gospel) that Jesus was telling us to take up our cross and follow him to Golgotha - the place of crucifixion? Wasn't it last week that he was telling us that to save our lives we had to lose them first? Wasn't he telling his followers that it wouldn't be long before they were dragged before councils and judges because of their faith, and could face torture, flogging, or death?

And now, a few verses later, he's trying to tell them, and us, that his yoke is easy and his burden is light?

What's he talking about?

Unfortunately, there's a misconception about the Christian faith that is being blithely spread around. It's the misconception that says if you're a Christian, then everything in your life will be just perfect. You won't get sick. You won't go broke. You won't go through personal tragedy. You won't suffer for anything, and your life will be the talk of the town.

When I lived in Altanta there was a preacher there who was on the local television who had a huge congregation. He had thousands and thousands packed into his church every Sunday. His mesage every week was that if you had enough faith, you too could live in a milion dollar mansion like he did. If you just trusted in Jesus, you could drive a Rolls Royce like he did. If you just had faith you would be healthy, wealthy, and wise. (Emphasis on the "wealthy.")

Quick. Easy. No fuss, no muss.

I guess if I could believe that I would have joined that preacher in his huge congregation on Sunday mornings. However, that's just not what Jesus was all about.

Laboring for the Kingdom of God was hard work for Jesus. It consummed him. It took everything he had to give. And it was so hard, that it eventually cost him his life.

Laboring for the Kingdom of God was hard work for John the Baptist too. It consummed him. It took everything he had to give. And it eventually led to his beheading.

Laboring for the Kingdom of God was hard work for St. Peter. It consummed him. It took everything that he had to give. Until he was eventually crucified too - upside-down.

St. Paul. Archbishop Romero. Martin Luther King Jr. Pat Tilman. We could go on and on with the lives of the saints who labored hard, and who paid the ultimate price for their faith.

So, my yoke is easy and my burden is light?

Jesus isn't talking about a lifelong vacation. He isn't talking about life being quick, easy, no fuss, no muss. He's not telling us to cast off all our yokes. He's telling us to put on his yoke. Take my yoke upon you.

He's not telling us that life is easy. He's saying that when life is hard, when it is out of control, when we are at the end of our rope - that we're not alone. We're not alone with our burdens because we're carrying Jesus' yoke. And he's right next to us carrying it too.

The Greek word for 'rest' (you will find rest for your souls) (Gr. anapausin) doesn't mean long extended vacation. It means a short rest. It means a brief break to catch our breathe. It's drinking a lemonade on a hot summer's day when you're halfway done mowing the lawn. It's resting for the work yet to be done.

Jesus is telling us that he is with us when life is hard. He's telling us that he's there to take part of the load as long as we're willing to carry our fair portion. He's telling us that he's there to rest our souls when they get weary from life's hardships. And he's telling us to take that moment of rest so that we have the energy and will to press on tomorrow - right next to him.

This is good news indeed. It's good news because we're a bunch of good people who are living life with all its trials and tribulations. We are people struggling with illness. We're people struggling with family problems. We're people with financial difficulties. We're people who laugh, and mourn, and cry, and shout.

And today Jesus is telling us that he's with us through it all.

He isn't saying that he's going to take it all away. He's not telling us to wait a day or two more until our Rolls Royce shows up.

He's telling us to take his yoke upon us, resting sure that he's got the heaviest portion of the load. He's telling us that when it's too much to bear, he's there to carry us through. And, when we need to rest and recharge the batteries, he's there to refresh our soul.

I don't know about you, but I'll take that any day over the quick and the cheap.