July 5, 2026

In this comforting and encouraging homily, we reflect on Jesus’s beautiful invitation in Matthew 11: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

If you have ever felt like following God is exhausting rather than "light," you aren’t alone. Using the imagery of a yoke—a tool designed to keep two oxen moving in the same direction together—this sermon explores how our burdens often feel heaviest when we pull away from Christ and try to go our own way.

Speaking directly to a congregation in the midst of a long and sometimes tiring pastoral transition, the message offers reassurance that we do not walk this interim journey alone. Just as a clergy stole symbolizes being yoked to Christ, the church is reminded that God is walking beside them, helping to carry the weight until the time comes to call their next pastor. Even when the journey feels long and the questions pile up, we are invited to learn the "unforced rhythm of grace."