We Are Never Alone

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for your selves. (Matthew 11:29)

How can Jesus’ “yoke,” (i.e. his challenging teachings) be construed as “easy” and its burden “light?” Jesus’ yoke is spelled out even too clearly in Matthew 16:24: Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.”

The passage of the Gospel in which Jesus’ yoke is mentioned, (Matthew 11: 25-30) begins with Jesus unable to contain his joy because the Father in heaven had closed the eyes of the haughty and the arrogant (wise and learned) to the mighty deeds that he is performing. And, at the same time, he praises the Father for revealing to the childlike (little ones) all those comforting and reassuring signs that make the carrying of Jesus’ yoke manageable to the point of being “easy” and its burden “light.” So, we start from this solid notion: “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Mt 18:3)

The little ones are the only ones on the right path to inheriting the Kingdom of Heaven. Their inner disposition is such that the yoke they shoulder is the one that Jesus offers them. This is a huge factor especially if we compare Jesus’ yoke to the one that the wise and the learned choose to shoulder. Those who are comfortable with their limitations; go about their work diligently and responsibly, one day at the time; admit their mistakes; turn a blind eye to the wrongs of others and do not draw attention to themselves, make their cross considerably lighter. They do not torment themselves worrying about how they can cover up their flaws; are not concerned about fame, recognition, accolades, status; do not focus on polishing their appearance and feeding their self-importance. The yoke they trustingly accept from the hands of Jesus is simply the heavy one that our fallen nature needs to work hard on to make ends meet; it includes health issues, misunderstandings, incomprehension and struggles in relating to co-workers, family members and others.

They know the Son and, through the Son, they know the Father as well. They talk to him directly and/or through the Blessed Mother and/or their favorite Saints. They ask for help, for light, for guidance, for protection, for comfort and for enough confidence in his divine care for them to be able to lead serene lives. Whenever they labor and are burdened, they seek rest in the Lord. Thus, the little ones, the childlike lead lives that true believers must find enviable.

For inspiration, hopefully we can spot some little ones, some childlike in our family, in our workplace, in our community and in our church. If thus far, we have preferred the yoke of the world, have tended to be stuck up and have made our status felt on others below us, in a gust of rare wisdom, we should toss all this arrogance aside to lighten the yoke we bear as disciples of Christ. Then, we would be ready for Jesus to make our yoke much lighter yet.

“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened by your weariness, your restlessness, your anguish, your fear, your worrying and I will give you rest.” (Mt 11:28)

This is quite an unusual invitation. We have heard it read in church countless times; we read it on our own in private perhaps just as many times, but we have yet to allow it to penetrate the depth of our mind and heart.

And here is the secret to making Jesus’ yoke easy and his burden light. Since ages past, wise farmers have been pairing an older, experienced ox with a younger, inexperienced, rebellious one. Eventually, the younger ox, by being hitched to the same yoke, will acquire the good attributes of the older one. 

“And learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart.” (Matthew 11:29)

In our heart, Jesus’ meekness and humility will rub off on us and we will realize that we are never alone in shouldering the yoke he offers us. 

I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me. (Philippians 4:13)

Courage my brothers and sisters, we are paired with the Lord around the clock. With his inspiring words and with his calming example, he ignites our hearts and fills them with patient endurance and lively hope. We are privileged because Jesus has hidden them from the wise and the learned and revealed them to us!