Perception is Key
Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30
“But to what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to one another, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we wailed, and you did not mourn.’ 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.” At that time Jesus said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 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. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
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Over the past few weeks, I've been catching up on a series about the history of tanks. What I found fascinating was how, throughout their history, various governments used them as a means to project a type of image. During WWI, Great Britain touted the tank as a conflict ending machine, even though it failed terribly during its first use. And later on, during the Cold War, the Soviet Union would mobilize its tank drivers by telling them Warsaw Pact members were under threat from NATO forces. The image or the perception we cast has a tremendous impact on how we view the world around us. And if we aren't careful, we may find that our lack of understanding leads to dire consequences.
That is the warning we find Jesus telling us this morning as he compares a generation to children who play in the marketplace. We should be clear in noting that Jesus isn't saying that play is wrong. The imagery that Jesus evokes serves as a way for Jesus to say that we are so preoccupied we can't even see the truth that is right in front of us. Those who surrounded Jesus could only see the superficial elements of what it meant to be a prophet and the Son of Man, but did they know who the real Jesus was? Again and again, people ask, "Are you the one to come, or are we to wait for another?" (Matthew 11:3).
Of course, we can talk about perception at a systematic level. Like in the documentary I was watching, it is easy to see how the characterization of others created fear and irrational distrust. But what about at a personal level. Has there ever been a time where you felt misunderstood? Unfortunately, I would bet that many of us have experienced this kind of misunderstanding. It's easy to generalize and form opinions based on minimal information. We hope that people could get to know us for who we are, yet it is disheartening when they buy into distorted perception. To know someone, we have to spend time with them and peel back any misgivings or falsehoods. In exercising this form of wisdom, we train our hearts to see past the things that cloud our vision.
Wisdom and teaching are critical components of the Gospel of Matthew. Jesus teaches the disciples and then sends them out into the world to teach others. But to instruct others, the disciples need to understand. And the teachings Jesus provides facilitates wisdom and truth to reveal who Jesus is and what role he plays in our lives. Wisdom is a life-giving gift; it is something that shows us the right path. It's a little more complex, of course, because we have to be receptive to Christ's teaching on wisdom in the first place! In our pursuit of wisdom and knowledge, we not only better understand ourselves, but our neighbors and God as well. Following in the life-giving wisdom that comes from God, we can separate the wheat from the chaff, the falsehoods/stereotype from truly understanding those around us.
There is a time to play and a time to learn. Throughout scripture, we find that foolishness is often associated with playfulness. So when Jesus compares people to children playing in the marketplace, he is highlighting their failure to understand. Wisdom is something that needs to be sought out; it cannot be passively obtained, and we should notice that wisdom is not associated with age. Jesus' prayer makes it clear that the "hidden things" have been revealed to everyone. The wisdom is there waiting for us to discover it. There needs to be a continuing unfolding of revelation, which challenges us to see past our comfort zone. There is a time to play, but there is also a time to get to work of understanding. The hope of Christ exists in both the extraordinary and mundane parts of life.
As we go about this work of becoming wiser, Jesus is there to offer us rest. But there's a catch to the rest that Jesus is offering us. It is a rest that involves instruction and teaching, as the rabbinic traditions of Jesus' time would have understood what Jesus meant when he talked about our yoke. There is rest that we can find in Christ, yet it requires that we place a certain amount of trust. In honing our skills of self-reflection and understanding of one another, we lean into the gentle instruction Jesus provides. It is in the gentle teachings of Jesus where we find rest. Jesus is a guide who isn't harsh or arrogant. As we continue to pull back the veil that has clouded our vision, we will discover that our introspective work will have paid off.
So may we hone our ability to look inward and find wisdom. May we go placing into Christ's arms our heavy burdens so that his teachings lead us to a place of rest. Truth is the beginning of wisdom. And the more we are open to discovering new truths about God, ourselves, and others in a way that is relational, we will find that we are on the path that leads us to live fruitful lives. Amen