Yokes and Burdens

At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:25-30

We all carry all sorts of baggage and life can weigh us down in many ways. Dealing with personal health and family health issues has taken a toll on me. I find myself feeling as if I need to take on the present struggles on my own. I guess we are all prone to forgetting we are not alone in the struggles of life. We want to fix what is broken and can be frustrated when the solutions are not forthcoming. Accepting the invitation to rest, when there is so much to do, seems frivolous and somehow wrong. And yet that is exactly what we are invited to do today.

Jesus has been helping his disciples on the road to mission and ministry. He understands their fears and the unreal expectations they put on themselves - just like we do now. We get like fussy children sometimes, and God offers us respite and tender learning and growth, when we are tired from our efforts and worn down from service. And he reminds us that we are never alone, in fact we are yoked to a gentle and lowly savoir, who shoulders our burdens, carries our baggage and invites us to rest and learn - to be renewed in the arms of love.

Today I want to accept that invitation, with open arms and a thankful heart. Not looking at what lies ahead, but rather dwelling in the shared space where love can renew and refresh even the most worn out heart. May we all accept the invitation today, so that our lives might be infused with Christ, and might radiate the love of the most tender and loving Savoir.