Greetings in Christ!
I pray that the month of September is off to a good start for all of you. What do we think of in September? Well, besides somehow becoming the beginning of Pumpkin Spice Season, it’s the time kids are back in school and when we also celebrate Labor Day.
I wanted to talk about Labor Day for a moment. It was made official on June 28, 1894 when President Grover Cleveland signed it into law. It has a very interesting history of how it came about and I recommend reading about it. Honoring the American worker and giving them a day of rest, reminds me of something Jesus said in Matthew chapter 11.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me…and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Like the harsh demand early Industrial Revolution Business had for their workers, the Israelites had so many laws and demands upon them. To break these would mean certain punishments, banishment, or even death. When Jesus said this, he was excusing these harsh demands upon the people, and I believe he was also excusing the harsh demands we put upon ourselves.
In our lives, there seems to be a demand for us to be perfect in so many ways. We can feel a certain amount of guilt because of some things we did or didn’t do. We feel we don’t live up to the world’s standard of how to be a good Christian. We feel the weight of the society’s judgement. But Jesus said, Come to me all you who are weary…and I will give you rest. He didn’t say, Come to me so I can whip you into shape as to what a good Christian is supposed to look like.
So on Labor Day this year, or any day of rest, let us remember that we don’t have to be perfect. We can rest in the fact that Jesus came and saved us, and we reflect on his teachings. We take on the yoke of the Lord, which is light, and do the best that we can. You may remember the quote, “Angels can fly because they take themselves lightly.” May it be so will all of you!
Peace and blessings always!
Pastor Brian
First United Methodist Church, Hudson, MI 