JESUS IN DRAG: The Cycle of Death & Resurrection (Matt. 11:16-19, 25-30)

"Christ-Sophia" (c) Stacy Boorn

This sermon was originally preached on July 9, 2023 at Redeemer Lutheran Church  in North Minneapolis, MN . The recorded service may be  viewed here.

Lectionary Texts: Psalm 145:8-14 | Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30

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Good morning, church. Once again and as ever, I am grateful to be with you today and really glad I finally get to lead worship with Pastor Jen! I’ve filled in for her in the past when she’s been gone, but this week we are here together because I asked for the opportunity to preach and she said yes. Woo hoo! Not only that, but it happens to be good timing for me to take up this burden while Pastor Jen takes a deep, much deserved breath.

I’m also excited to be here preaching when Pastor Alissa is here, since she was one of the first people to welcome me back in 2016, and offer me a place of ease and rest at a moment in my life when I was ground down to dust and wanted nothing to do with church. She is also the one who invited me in the summer of 2017 to apply for the admin position. The rest, as they say, is history we are living, in this very moment.

Lest you think I’m going on for no good reason, trust me for a moment and let’s go to today’s text, which is, at its end, all about the collaborative laying down and taking up of burdens. 

Our gospel begins at the end of a conversation between Jesus and the followers of currently-incarcerated John the Baptist who sent them to ask if the man who’s been healing people and calling his own disciples is still the One Who is To Come, or if they should look and wait for another. John, it seems, is weary and doubting if all his ministry had come to naught or if maybe he’d heralded the wrong guy.. .

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