Suffering and difficulties are part of the human world. It is really not something pleasant because it makes people cry and beg for solutions, yet, our problems often lack concrete solutions. Then we ask Jesus for rest. The rest that Jesus speaks about is not just freedom from the bondage of the laws placed on the people by the Jewish leaders, but the rest that we deserve, is to be free from troubles.
Today in the gospel, Jesus invites us all to come to Him. Jesus offers rest to those who labour and are burdened, if they are ready to accept His easy yoke and light burden. He say, “Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened, and I will give you rest. Shoulder my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Yes, my yoke is easy and my burden light” (Matthew 11:28-30).
Jesus invites the overburdened Israel, and us, to take His yoke upon our shoulders. The yoke of Christ can be seen as the sum of our Christian responsibilities and duties. Jesus’ yoke is light because it is given with love. It is the commandment to love others as Jesus did. Besides, the yoke of Christ is not just a yoke from Christ but also a yoke with Him.
Nevertheless, We are burdened with many things: business, concerns about jobs, marriage, money, health, children, security, old age, and a thousand other things. Jesus is asking us to give Him our burdens and take on His yoke. By telling us, “Take my yoke . . . and you will find rest,” Christ is asking us to do things the Christian way. When we are centred in God, when we follow God’s commandments, we have no heavy burdens. We need to place all our worries on God and wait for His help. God cannot abandon us to our troubles. He cares for us and He is able to help us.
Many times, we suffer because of our unnecessary burden that we place on ourselves. At times, what we call troubles are self inflicted. We need to be freed from unnecessary burdens. Thus, Jesus is interested in lifting off our backs the burdens that drain us and suck the life out of us, so that He can place around our necks His own yoke and His burden, that bring to us, and to others through us, new life, new energy, new joy. Peace be with you.
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