A sermon on Matthew 11:25-30

By Fr. Mike Paraniuk
St. Mary Catholic Church (Hillsboro,
St. Benignus Catholic Church (Greenfield),
Saint Mary Queen of Heaven Catholic Church (Peebles)
Holy Trinity Catholic Church (West Union)

One early morning I was driving past Benji's Drive Thru on Old Route 32 when I saw a big truck parked in their driveway. Painted on it were two of the most hated words across all America (think of a once-popular light beer). 

I saw the driver standing outside smoking a cigarette. I stopped to talk with him about his thoughts of driving the most hated beer truck in America. He gave me an insight I never thought of. 

He said, "People give me dirty looks. Sometimes they yell obscenities at me. I carry protection. There are crazies out there. I think it's crazier what some out-of-touch executive at the company did to hurt a lot of people. Beer is supposed to be fun, something to relax with. Instead, they used a brand to push a political agenda that I and many others don't agree with. 

"I don't hate people. I think we should try to get along with others. But darn it, don't use this to push someone else's beliefs down my throat." 

The driver talked about how his life has been adversely affected. 

"My hours were cut. Instead of spending time with my wife and kids when I get home, I have to work a second job. I miss them. I've talked with factory workers in Louisiana and North Carolina who are now laid off." 

He concluded, "It's hard to believe one guy in a New York skyscraper could take away the happiness of so many."

Jesus came to earth to show us what God wants. God wants you to be happy. Jesus tells you where to find real happiness – and it won't be found in a beer bottle. 

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28). If you want true peace, put your faith in Jesus. If you are weary and burdened with life, take it all to Jesus who can give you rest because He cares for you. 

I have found that Jesus has this wonderful ability to make a way to get me out of my troubles. Then I sit back and say, "Wow, Jesus. That was amazing!" 

Act 17: 27 says "God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us." God is near and always ready to help. 

Jesus rejected the Pharisees who pushed their religious agenda just like many today reject a brand of beer for pushing a political agenda. Jesus compared it to a yoke. A yoke is a heavy wooden bar attached to the neck of two animals to keep them under control. Jesus says His yoke is light. A relationship with God is simple. "Whoever believes in me will be saved." (Mark 16:16.) 

The Pharisees yoke was heavy. Faith in God was not enough. They piled on many rules that were so difficult to follow they became a burden to any one honestly seeking God. God got lost in a maze of crazy laws. Here is a small sampling:

1) You couldn't water plants.

2) You couldn't climb a tree or dig in the ground.

3) You couldn't ride an animal or feed a dog.

4) You couldn't pick strawberries and put them in your pocket or basket.

5) You couldn't wring water out of a cloth.

6) You couldn't peel fruit unless you ate it immediately. You couldn't set a table for tomorrows meals.

7) You couldn't boil a potato.

8) You couldn't light a fire or extinguish a flame. (Pray God your house doesn't catch fire.)

9) You couldn't walk more steps than the law required.

10) And God forbid if you milk a cow. 

Break any of these laws and off to hell you go! Can you believe the Pharisees thought they were learned and wise? In my opinion, they all suffered from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

The Pharisees made people jump through hoops to reach God. Jesus says all you have to do is humbly get on your knees in prayer. Psalm 95:6 says, "Come, let us worship and bow down, Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker."

I am not saved by what I do. I am saved by what Jesus did. All I have to do is come to Jesus and believe. 

(Say a prayer for the laid off factory workers.)