July 6, 2014 – Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Zec 9: 9-10; Ps 145: 1-2, 8-11, 13-14: Rom 8: 9, 11-13; Mt 11: 25-30
“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me… for my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” With these words of relief and comfort, Jesus calls us to be one with Him so that He can share in our own burdens, our own trials and tribulations. There is a deeper meaning for us if we understand the comparisons to life in Jesus’ time.
When training a young ox, the owner would often attach the calf to an older, more experienced ox that was accustomed to both the yoke and the weight of pulling the burden. Jesus is encouraging us to share our tests with Him by taking on the yoke and allowing Him to assist us with our troubles and difficulties.
Often we point out that one of the basics of stewardship is to live a God-centered life rather than a self-centered life. The Lord’s message is that in living this way, our lives, and especially the distressful aspects of our lives, become something that He can bear more easily. Of course, we have to be willing to be His disciples and to commit our lives to serving Him and others. In that way, the Lord will truly give us rest. Jesus’ spirit, dwelling within us, will genuinely give us life.
