“my yoke is easy…my burden is light”
Jesus calls us today to come and place our troubles, our burdens, our pains, our sufferings, our struggles, anything that might be keeping us from our fullest potential and give it to Him. He promises us that He will give us rest and instructs us to take up his yoke, which is easy, and the burden light. The closer we attach ourselves to Jesus through prayer and the Sacraments, the easier our life will become. When we learn to accept and follow the Will of God, our life will no longer be characterized by stringent and restrictive slavery but by a joyful freedom.
What is a yoke? A yoke is a wooden crosspiece that is fastened onto the necks of a pair of animals to plow or pull something. It was also a crossbeam for a person to carry pails or baskets on their neck and shoulders. Both cases fit with what Jesus is saying in today’s Gospel. If we fasten ourselves next to Christ, not only will He direct us where to go, but He will do most of the work. When it feels like we are carrying the world on our shoulders and its weight is dragging us down, Jesus tells us to surrender everything and to take up His yoke for its weight is light.
A great example of this is Atlas and the Infant of Prague statue. We see how man thinks of the burden of the world as on its back and we buckle underneath its weight. However, when looking at a statue of the Infant, we see Jesus holding the whole world in one of His tiny hands. He shows us that when we place that heavy burden that’s breaking our backs on him, He can turn it all into a small paperweight easily carried in one small hand.
Search: The Kingdom of God
Why did Jesus speak in this manner? Why did he mention a yoke and releasing burden? Jesus was referring to the last chapter of Sirach where it says, “Come aside to me, you untutored, and take up lodging in the house of instruction...Submit your neck to her yoke, that your mind may accept her teaching. For she is close to those who seek her, and the one who is earnest finds her.” [1]
When we humble ourselves to God’s Will, we find greater joy and reward than we could ever have by chasing our own will. Sirach concludes with these same statements, “See for yourselves! I have labored only a little, but have found much. Acquire but a little instruction; you will win silver and gold through her. Let your spirits rejoice in the mercy of God, and be not ashamed to give him praise. Work at your tasks in due season, and in his own time God will give you your reward.” [2]
What was burdening the people? Jesus came to bring ease and peace to those who were burdened and weighed down by the Scribes and Pharisees. The Scribes and Pharisees complicated the original commandments and compounded the burden of the law. We are all burdened and looking for a place to rest. Many people thought the coming Messiah was to be an earthly King or General, but Jesus came that we might have peace. Think of a truly peaceful time. The weight of this world, and the cares we may have had were lifted from us with that peace. Jesus invites the burdened to take the yoke of obedience to his word, where they will find rest. [3]
Why should we help others with their burdens if they are not our own? If we are to follow and imitate Christ we should look for ways to not add stress upon others, and to find ways in which we can help others bear their pains and struggles. This should only take place after we have helped ourselves of course. As St. Jose Maria Escriva wrote, “When you have finished your work, do your brother’s, and helping him, for Christ’s sake, so tactfully and so naturally that no one - not even he - will realize that you are doing more than what in justice you ought.” [4] We should find ways to help relieve our brothers and sisters in Christ, because Christ himself did that for everyone He met, and still does this for all of mankind.
How can we be less of a burden on others? How can we help ease the burden of others? This could mean giving a kind word of encouragement to someone, just listening to a person vent, providing a shoulder to cry on, an extra pair of hands to help, or possibly to be the calming level-headed effect for someone.
Jesus has never wanted us to be burdened down by the stresses of life. He did not want us to be living out our lives just to work twenty-four/seven 365 days a year. He wants our true devotion. We can only do this through our prayers and devotions on a daily basis. There was a story of Blessed Mother Teresa where she was requested by several of her sisters if they could shorten prayer time by just an hour so that they could focus more on helping the sick and dying in Calcutta. Mother Teresa stopped and pondered for a few seconds, and then she said, “You’re right. What we need to do though is pray more!” So she had her sisters add an extra hour of prayer to their morning prayers. Soon afterward the sisters were actually able to care for the people coming to them better than they ever had before. Mother Theresa knew the sisters hearts were wanting to help the sick and dying, but she also knew that the only way to truly help anyone is to have true love and devotion to the heart of Christ.
[1] Sirach 51: 23, 26
[2] Sirach 51: 27-30
[3] NAB notes Matthew 11, 28, 29
[4] J. Escriva, The Way, 440