Fourteenth Sunday of the Year July 09, 2023
Zechariah 9:9-10; Romans 8:9.11-13; Matthew 11:25-30
Have you ever ploughed a field? Or at least watched someone plaguing?
The way yoke is tied to the bulls looks too harsh and inhuman. Yoke might have
been a usual thing for Jesus, being a carpenter himself. As a carpenter Jesus
must have cut many such yokes. The yoke that Jesus gives for us does not cause
discomfort but brings us comfort because the yoke of Jesus is easy and light.
The invitation of Jesus to us is to accept not a yoke that weighs us down but a
yoke that is easy and light, for he says, take my yoke upon you and learn from
me, for I am meek and humble of heart and you will find rest for your selves.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. There is still another way of
understanding the image of the yoke. He tells us: Live life my way and place
your burdens on me and they will be light. Your yokes too will be gentle and in
fact, pleasant if you are with me.
What does Jesus really promise with his yoke? Jesus does not
promise a life without burdens or weariness. On the other hand he offers a way
of overcoming them. His is not an easy way out of problems but rather a
liberating way into solutions. This is the wisdom that is hidden from the
intelligent and the wise, but which is obvious to infants. Trust as children
trust, Jesus says. Let a loving parent take your hand. Shelter on a mother's
breast; be carried on your father's shoulders. Have confidence in a parent's
promise. Live as though your needs are noticed, respected, provided. Underneath
are the everlasting arms that constantly invite his disciples for rest. In this
personal invitation he repeats that his yoke is easy and his burden is light.
We are so good at bearing heavy burdens.
There is, however, a better way of understanding the yoke of
Christ. Among the Jews the yoke was put on the necks of two cattle so that
together they could pull the plough as one. It always takes a pair to work a
yoke. When Jesus asks you to take the yoke, you might as well ask who is your
yoke-mate. Your yoke-mate is none other than Jesus himself. The yoke, in fact,
belongs to him and he only invites you to team up with him. The yoke of Christ
is not just a yoke from Christ but also a yoke with him. To take the yoke of
Christ is to associate and identify ourselves with him: our destiny with his
destiny, our vision with his vision and our mission with his mission. It is to
know that we are not pulling the yoke alone and by our power but together with
Christ and by the strength that comes from him.
Therefore our Christian life is not lived in isolation. Our
Lord is always with us, sharing our burden and journeying with us. When we
truly believe that Jesus is with us in our joys and struggles of life, when we realize
that Jesus also bears another part of our daily struggles, we become joyful
followers of Jesus our true master. Let us remember that in Jesus alone our yoke
becomes easy and the burden light.
"Cast your burdens unto Jesus, for He cares for you."
Happy Sunday
No comments:
Post a Comment