When we are burdened and weary, we yearn for rest. Sometime the Gospel message challenges us, but today that message is a very comforting indeed. I know many people who are burdened with a lot of things in their lives – with guilt or anger or resentment - with so many things that are weighing them down. Yet, Jesus goes on to say that we should take his yoke upon our shoulders. When I think of a yoke, I think of that wooden crosspiece that is fastened around the neck of an ox or another animal that allows it to pull a wagon or a plow. I don’t see a yoke as something that is comfortable or something that we would willingly assume in our lives. But, Jesus is telling us that his yoke is different, that it reflects the humility and meekness of his heart. Through Christ’s yoke, we will find rest.
It is hard to give up our burdens because we become accustomed to them, we get used to carry them around with us. Even though they are burdens, it is difficult to shed them. Yet, we need to take that first step in releasing them and in assuming Christ’s yoke instead. This is not an easy thing to do, that is for sure. Yet, Christ will show us the way. We can just sit back and complain about the way we see things, about all that is burdening us and weighing us down. But what proactively can we do about it? What can we do to get Jesus to become integrated more fully into our lives and to help us to develop and grow along our journey of faith?
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