Struggles are present within our life. There is always a burden for us to carry and for some this burden is more apparent then with others. This may be the burden of health, marital issues, job security, addictions, and other burdens that are thrown at us on a constant basis. In the midst of all these burdens the devil wants us to believe that we are all alone, but this is not the case.
We must remember that Christ is in our midst. It is He who came to the apostles in order to calm the many storms that were rising up around them while they were on the sea. As we were instructed in our Gospel, “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
This imagery brings us to the oxen who set out in order to plow fields. It is the yoke which sits around their neck in order that the burden of their work may be made light. This yoke joins them together with another in order that they may work together as a team. Without this yoke this burden would lay down upon them and make their work difficult. It is Christ who desires that we turn towards Him in faith in order that He may take all these burdens upon Him.
When we look to the cross we see Him take this yoke upon Himself. It was here that He emptied Himself out for us out of love. He took upon Himself that weight of the sins of the world and did so lovingly in order that we may be redeemed. As we are told in Sacred Scripture, “Take up your cross and follow after me.”
Whenever we take up the cross we join ourself to Christ. We remember that we are present with Him and that He assists us in all that we do. Wherever the storm is present in our life it is He who calms it if only we believe. This yoke is well fitting because it has been given to us by Christ, is found to be perfect, and assists us in our journey towards Everlasting Life.
In the days of old the yoke was made by a skilled carpenter in order that it would perfectly fit the oxen that would use it. This allowed their work to be efficient because it would not waste their strength and made it less likely that they would be injured. If an inexperienced carpenter made the yoke it would not work as efficiently.
This image is important because it is made in reference to the cross. The cross becomes easy and light when we compare it to the burdens of this world which we so often worry ourselves about. Let us place our trust in Christ and His cross that has set us free from sin and death. In doing so we are sent forth as disciple of the Lord who place their trust in Him and His cross which has brought about our redemption. Despite all the burdens of our life, it is Christ and His cross that sets us free.
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