Matthew 11:25-30
The Daily Office
“Come to me, all who are weary and whose load is heavy; I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble-hearted; and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to wear, my load is light (Matt. 11:28-30, Revised English Bible)
Given how Matthew arranges his Gospel, this particular teaching of Jesus’s will take on greater meaning as we continue the next chapter, which focuses on the Pharisees’ opposition to Jesus. But for now, think of a yoke, that heavy piece of wood that is placed on the oxen so that together, they will pull the wagon as one, as a team. The yoke isn’t placed on one ox, but on two. When Jesus says, “take my yoke,” He isn’t saying, take up a new lonely burden. He is saying: Join me in my yoke, or let me come beside you in your yoke, and it won’t be as heavy, because I’ll be doing the heavy lifting.
If you are alone with your burdens, don’t be afraid to reach out and ask for help. Christ’s hands and arms are here to take up the yoke with you. Or perhaps, you might want to ask yourself, if that yoke is really the one that Christ wants you to carry. In any case, God lays no yoke on you to carry by yourself.
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