In today’s Gospel, Matthew 11:25-30, we find Jesus saying, “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. For my yoke is easy and my burden light”.
This seems contradictory at first. He says come to me those who are burdened for rest, then talks about a yoke. Yokes were a wooden frame put around the necks of animals for working. In this case the word “yoke” is meant to mean submission or obedience to Jesus’ instruction for service.
This message goes against what the world wants us to believe today. The world tells us that to be free we don’t need any God or religion. Freedom means doing whatever we want. The reality is that this is not freedom, because this lifestyle enslaves us to things that won’t make us happy.
Jesus is telling us that obedience to him is what will make our lives much easier and our burdens lighter. He created us, he knows us, and he unconditionally loves us with agape love. Are we listening to the world or to Jesus?
De Colores, Deacon Kevin
