The Gospel according to Matthew (11:28-30)
Jesus said:
“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am meek and humble of heart;
and you will find rest for yourselves.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”
Reflection:
I remember, when I was younger, hearing older people say that they would rest when they were dead. I thought that was a pretty morbid statement that neglected the need to rest now, while we are alive. I am now one of those older people saying the same thing. I think we get to a point in our lives when we accept the fact that we will never catch up on our rest. Even if we get the recommended amount of sleep and sneak in an occasional nap we never feel completely rested.
So, what is Jesus telling us in today’s gospel? To some it may seem confusing because his offer of rest involves putting on a yoke. Most people know what a yoke is but if you haven’t seen one for a while I would suggest you find a picture on the internet. A typical yoke is quite heavy and burdensome. So, then, how can Jesus say that his yoke is easy and his burden light?
It may be that he is not talking about the type of rest we get after a good night’s sleep or a nice long nap. The problems and challenges of life do not disappear with rest. Could it be that Jesus is offering us not rest but peace. He is, after all, the Prince of Peace. How many times does Holy Scripture talk about peace? And how often does Jesus not just talk about it but bring peace to the people and places he visits. When he sent his apostles out in pairs, he instructed them to offer peace to those whom they visited. His post resurrection greeting to the apostles in the upper room is “Peace be with you”.
And remember, the yoke he wants us to put on has him yoked with us. I can tell you, and many of you can too, that I have experienced the peace, rest, and grace received when we allow our Lord and Savior to do the heavy lifting. We are called to do our part, what we can in unison with Jesus. But everything in life becomes much more manageable when we trust in God’s plan for us. His yoke IS easy, and his burden IS light if we allow him to lead us and bear the burden.
Action of the day:
Is there is something in your life that is weighing you down? Maybe, right now it is not you but someone you know. Pray for the grace you or someone else needs to accept the invitation of Jesus to take on his yoke. Feel your shoulders, back, and legs regaining their strength as you allow Jesus to take on your struggle or pain. He is our savior. He can and will walk with us if we let him.
Audio Reflection:
