An easy yoke

Good morning, happy Wednesday, and many blessings.

The Gospel today is composed of only three verses (Mt 11:28-30) which form part of a brief literary unit, one of the most beautiful ones, in which Jesus thanks the Father for having revealed the wisdom of the Kingdom to the little children and because He has hidden it from the doctors and the wise (Mt 11:25-30). 

“Come” is a familiar word in scripture. “Come back to me; come and see; come follow me.” God continues to invite us, desiring what is best for us. This is the God who leads us to restful waters, who desires that work be service, not slavery. We are promised the help we need by a gentle and humble Lord to walk more lightly in life, knowing that he is with us.

Do I hear the Lord’s invitation to me as life-giving and liberating? Where do I feel burdened or enslaved knowing the Lord desires freedom in service of him and others? I turn to the Lord for what I need to travel more lightly in life. This simple invitation goes straight to the heart. I spend time letting it echo within me, as I bring to Jesus all my weariness and heavy burdens, one by one. Jesus promises that when we are troubled, if we turn to him, he will help us. Let us take him at his word.

A yoke is always carried by two oxen. The reason Christ’s yoke is easy for us to carry is because he is carrying it with us, and taking most of the weight. Jesus clearly declared that he had come to heal and lift up those who were ailing (saying that it’s the sick who need the doctor). In the past people had foreseen only a regime of punishment for waywardness. A yoke has traditionally been used between a pair of animals, usually oxen, to help them pull together on a load. Who is joined to me in this yoke? Surely it is Jesus himself!

I seek quiet in my heart so that I can listen to Jesus' invitation to lay all my heavy burdens at his feet, and so find rest. Then I bring myself to respond, by accepting this invitation, going to him and taking my burdens one by one, becoming aware of my need to find rest. I ask him to make my heart like unto his, gentle and humble. I thank God for the gentleness and humility I notice in my heart, and ask for more, as I pray for the grace to be like Jesus in all my relationships, both in those that are easy and in the difficult ones.

Jesus invites us to come to Him just as we are. He recognizes the busyness of our lives, how we labor and are overburdened and draws us into his loving and gentle presence. He wants to listen to all of our troubles and assures us that his yoke is easy, and his burden is light. When we spend time with Jesus, we find rest for our souls. He speaks to us in the silence of our hearts and gives us inner peace.

Have you ever experienced the rest promised by Jesus? How can the words of Jesus help our community to be a place of rest for our life? To follow Jesus requires radical change. How can this be an easy yoke or a light burden?  

Blessings,

Fr. Luis+