Finding Hidden Things

Exodus 1:6-14, 22-2:10; Romans 7:14-25a; Matthew 11:25-30

Most of you know that my wife and I spent fourteen years in Iowa, serving churches there before returning to the Michigan Area six years ago. And some of you may know that the Iowa Conference of the United Methodist Church covers the whole state of Iowa, a pretty large area of land.

While we served churches in Iowa we had the privilege to serve under a very interesting and very spiritual man: Bishop Rueben Job. I remember one of the first times I had the opportunity to hear him preach. He described how he was the son of immigrants from Russia who had come to the United States in order to escape the Bolshevik revolution. They were a hearty farming couple and decided to settle in a place in the United States that reminded them of home: South Dakota, with it's prairies, and wheat fields that seem to go on forever. Bishop Job describes how, when he was young, draft horses were very expensive. So, his father bought a team of oxen to do the plowing.

Bishop Job went on to say how oxen are hooked up to do their plowing. Most of the time, oxen are hooked up side, by side, sharing a common yoke around their necks. The yoke was a heavy, leather covered device made out of wood which the oxen would pull and also be steered by.

But, then, there was a special yoke which Bishop Job described: Instead of being a double yoke, this one was a triple yoke. This special yoke would be used by the farmer to break in and train a young ox. Two older, trained oxen would be put on the outside and the young ox would be put in the middle. This way, the two oxen on the outside would carry most of the burden, while the younger ox was getting used to the idea of having a yoke around his neck and learning how to do the job.

Now, I think some Bishops are pretty interesting people. I think I could have sat for hours listening to Bishop Job talk about life on the farm as he was growing up. He could make it sound so interesting. But, the reason he told this story was to show one of the meanings of Jesus' saying: "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."

I think we would be right in assuming that when Jesus was saying this, he was thinking of the age-old way by which oxen have learned how to do their master's bidding. If you'll notice, Jesus said, "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me." What is beautiful here is that Jesus was claiming to be the farmer, driving the oxen. Rather, with these beautiful words, Jesus was saying that he was One who would share the burden with us as we engaged in the lifelong task of learning what it means to be the children of God.

I am reminded of the words of that now famous writing entitled, "Foot Prints in the Sand," whereby the person, knowing that Christ has walked by his side all his life, looks back upon his life and sees two pairs of footprints along the sand. But the person is a bit dismayed when he realizes that along rougher places there was only one set of footprints. To solve the riddle Christ tells him that it was at those rough times in his life that Jesus carried him.

Indeed, this should have meaning to any of us who have seen the hard times, or who may be feeling a bit low, even now. For, as a Christian, as one who is loved by God, you need to remember that you are never alone. For Jesus said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." "For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

In Jesus' day there were those who made salvation appear well nigh impossible. In order to be considered clean and worthy of salvation, a person was required by the Jewish religion to follow as many 613 different laws in the Torah and Talmud. Even today there are those within that religion who strive very hard to keep all of those laws. And what a difficult job that was and is! Even the apostle Paul realized the difficulty in doing this. As far as Paul was concerned, attaining one's salvation by works was impossible, a terrible burden to expect of anyone. As he wrote in the book of Galatians: "All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law."

Did you know that there are Christian churches today which make a strict adherence to a long list of laws a condition for a person's salvation, as though they had not read the writings of Paul or heard Jesus say that his yoke is easy and his burden is light? Certainly, some rules are important for a church, like "no smoking or drinking in the church," and "no running," and "no talking or sleeping," during the sermon. But, according to the apostle Paul (and we read this in the book of Romans, over and over, again): salvation does not come from following rules and regulations. Rather, salvation comes from faith in Jesus Christ.

And, while faith in Jesus Christ is an easy yoke and a light burden, it is a stumbling block to many. Or, as Jesus said in a prayer of praise to God, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven

and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and

learned, and revealed them to little children."

When I was little, living in Flint, one of the most fun things to do was play hide and seek. Now, most kids probably don't know how to play this anymore, because of the dulling effect of television. But for you who grew up before television you'll know about the game: First, you need a bunch of kids. Then, you have to pick one of those kids to be "it."

Now, there were a number of ways to pick the one who was "it." We'd all stand in row and stick one foot forward. Then one of the kids older kids would recite a rhyme pointing his or her finger at each foot, and going down the row with each word of the rhyme. Sometimes it was, "Eenee, meanie, miney, moe. Catch a monkey (I substituted a word, there) by his toe. If he yells, make him pay $90.00 every day." Other times, it was "Mickey Mouse built a house, what color was it?" The person who's shoe belonged to the word "it" would then say a color, like "red". Then the rhyme would continue with "R, E, D, spells red, so you are it."

After that, the person who was "it" had to stand by a tree which was declared to be "home," close his or her eyes, and count to 100 by fives, or by one's, depending upon the availability of hiding places, while everyone hid. Upon reaching 100, the person who was "it" would then go in search for everyone else. Upon finding a hiding place, "it" had to touch the person, who would then be declared "out". But, if that person was able to get away without being touched and make it to the tree called "home" he would be exempt from being "it" in the next round.

But, it was amazing when you consider the hiding places those kids could find. Indeed, I think that kids are able to find some of the most ingenious hiding places: under steps, inside of garbage cans, behind bushes, one kid even hid under a pile of boards: places that no adult, and especially a sophisticated person, would even think of.

And Jesus said, in our scripture lesson for today: "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.

Jesus' yoke is easy and his burden is light, but it takes a childlike trust and submission to be willing to yield to such simplicity.

Are you willing, or as the hymn says, are ye able, to be like a little child, open to the One who comes to us and refreshes us with the invitation: "Come unto me who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest?"

It's so simple, and yet, so hard. I'm reminded of the story told about the escape artist, Houdini who could get out of any jail, handcuffs, or strait jacket that he ever tried -- except one, a little jail in the British Isles.

He worked at the cell-door lock for more than two hours -- at that terrific speed which usually unlocked doors in three seconds. But the lock wouldn't spring. Finally, exhausted, he fell against the door. It swung open. It had never been locked."

How amazing it is that, for many, the most difficult thing to find is that which is freely offered to us. Salvation's before us now, given to us as a free gift, hidden from those who would make a task of it, but free to those who will accept it with a childlike faith. Amen.