Homily for July 20th, 2017: Matthew
11:28-30.
“Take my yoke
upon you,” Jesus says. In Jesus’ day yokes were as common a wheelbarrows today.
Carved out of wood to fit over the shoulders, they had arms extending out about
a foot or more on either side, with a ring on each end supporting a rope or
chain from which the person using the yoke could hang a bucket or other
container. This made it possible to transport with relative ease loads too
heavy to be carried by hand.
It was crucial
that yoke fit the shoulders of the person using it. Otherwise the yoke would
chafe and the person attempting to use it would soon throw it off. “My yoke is
easy,” Jesus says, “and my burden light.” There is an unspoken IF there. The
yoke and burden Jesus offers us are easy and light only if we accept them. If we chafe against the yoke and try to throw it
off, then it is not easy; and the burden which it supports is heavy and
definitely not light.
To help us
accept the yoke Jesus says: “Learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart.”
Meekness and humility do not come to us easily or without prolonged effort and
many failures. We must be lifelong learners. Our teacher is the best there is.
He understands our difficulties. He is not interested in how often we stumble
and fall. He is interested in one thing only: how often, with his help, we get
up again, and continue the journey.
Our teacher’s
name is Jesus Christ.
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