Hearts to receive?

Our reading from Matthew (11:20-end) today begins with Jesus’ strong chastisement of what are called ‘the unrepentant cities’: Chorazin and Bethsaida as well as Capernaum. His words directly relate to the previous passages in which Jesus praises John the Baptist and expresses his frustration at the way the people speak about both him and John; verses 11. 18-19 ‘for John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, he has a demon; the Son of Man came eating and drinking and they say ‘look a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners. Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.’

Jesus’ strong criticism of those who reject both him and John the Baptist is in stark contrast to the second half of our reading in which Jesus prays a prayer of thanksgiving to his Father. In it he praises his Father that his wisdom and truth is revealed to infants; and then Jesus makes a call to those who are weighed down with burdens, offering them an alternative way of life, a way which is gentle, easy and light.

‘Come unto me, ye that are heavy laden and I will give ye rest; for my yoke is easy and my burden is light’.

The movement in thought and emotion in this passage is a challenge to each one of us today. It is also an invitation. Jesus is clear that what he offers is received by those who are little; those who are small and humble of heart- willing to receive and to live in God’s alternative kingdom. We live, don’t we, tossed about by the day to day concerns and problems we encounter – and Jesus presents to us an attractive alternative, a life where our burdens are light, where we gain rest for our souls and where the yoke is easy.

How do we become part of such a kingdom? The link must be made back to how willing we are to receive from God – how willing we are to open our hearts to God’s loving word and to step away from the criticisms, condemnations and envy which make up the average human response to others.  Are we slow of understanding, always looking for fault, happy to condemn and reject? To those who have hearts to receive, Jesus welcomes them into a world of infinite goodness and mercy; to those who don’t, by their own action, they condemn themselves.