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Gospel: Matthew 11: 28-30
Jesus said:
“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 light.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
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In Jesus’ time, farmers paired oxen together using a wooden apparatus called a yoke so that they could plow the fields together.
A stronger, more experienced ox was paired with a younger or weaker ox to help it plow. The yoke pushed the weaker ox forward, who otherwise might’ve given up when his muscles fatigued in the heat of the mid-day sun.
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Jesus likens himself to this stronger, more experienced ox who offers to plow through the fields of life with us.
This is the good news! Jesus never gives up. He never tires. He’s used to the mid-day heat; he’s knows every field; he’s been through it all before.
He’s plowed through the fields of suffering; the fields of poverty; the fields of friendship; even the fields of betrayal and death.
He’s plowed through them all and come out victoriously.
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What he offers us today is his wisdom, experience, and strength.
“Come to me, all you who are heavy burdened, and I will give you rest, for my yoke is easy and my burden light,” he says.
With Jesus by our side, we can plow through anything, even when the day is long and the heat seems unbearable.
If you’re feeling heavy burdened today, yoke yourself to Jesus. Perhaps the prayer below may help.
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Lord, you alone know all of the burdens that I carry. Often it’s the burden of family, finance, my future, my dreams. Too often I try carrying these burdens alone.
Not today, Lord.
Today I stand next to you, shoulder to shoulder, hand in hand. I am yoked as one with you. In the words of Saint Ignatius of Loyola:
“Take, Lord, receive, my liberty, my memory, my understanding, my entire will, all that I have and call my own. You have given all to me. To you, Lord, I return it. Do with it what you will. Give me only your love and your grace. That is enough for me.”
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(1) Today’sBibleVerse.com, @ 2012 Christian.org (2) Weak Ox – WordPress.com (3) RedBubble