THURSDAY, FIFTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Is 26: 7-9, 11, 16-19 Ps 102: 13-21 Mt 11: 28-30
TAKE UP MY YOKE AND LEARN FROM ME
In the book The Prison Meditations, Father Alfred Delp said, “Only in God is man capable of living fully. Without God, he is perpetually sick. His illness affects his happiness and ability to be happy”. When life is not lived in communion with God, it becomes grey and sordid, calculating and joyless. In today’s gospel, Jesus says, “Shoulder my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” This is wonderful advice, especially for us in today’s fast-paced world when we can’t find peace of mind.
What type of yoke does Jesus have in mind for us? And how can it benefit us? The metaphor of the yoke used by Jews represents obedience to God. They refer to the yoke of the law, the yoke of commandments, the yoke of the kingdom, and the yoke of God. The Pharisees and Scribes talked about “God’s yoke,” or “the yoke of the law,” but he talked about “my yoke.” Jesus’ yoke is easy, and its weight is light. His yoke is simply His method of love, which includes observing the Ten Commandments and loving our neighbours as ourselves. We are told to put on Jesus’ ‘sweet yoke’ and enjoy the ‘heavenly way of life and pleasure. His burden is light not because He asks for less, but because, unlike the scribes and Pharisees, He is “gentle and humble in heart.” When Jesus says, ‘accept my yoke,’ he is our partner, teammate, and yokemate. His perspective differs significantly from that of the Pharisees. He assists; they just point out the flaws that they observe. They are haughty; he was meek and humble in heart. We have our own yokes, such as worry, bitterness, guilt, disease, disappointment, unemployment, tough relationships, addictions, etc.
Jesus lightens our loads through love and helps us ease the burdens of others. We also have the ability to lighten our own responsibilities, as some of our burdens are self-imposed. No load is too heavy when offered and carried with love.
Response: The Lord looked down from heaven to the earth.
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