***
Gospel: Matthew 11: 25-30
At that time Jesus exclaimed:
“I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
for although you have hidden these things
from the wise and the learned
you have revealed them to little ones.
Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will.
All things have been handed over to me by my Father.
No one knows the Son except the Father,
and no one knows the Father except the Son
and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.”
“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.
***
***
Do any of you recall seeing a picture of this sheep in the news a few years ago?
His name is Shrek.
Shrek’s story went viral after being found by his shepherd. Six years earlier, Shrek wandered away from the rest of the flock, getting lost in the hills of New Zealand.
Miraculously, he survived by hiding in caves alone.
Without a shepherd to care for him, Shrek’s wool ballooned to sixty pounds, six times the average weight that a sheep normally carries. That’s enough wool to make 20 suits!
After he was found, it took only twenty minutes to shear all of that excess wool. Imagine that: six years of unnecessary weight lifted in a matter of minutes.
***
Sometimes Shrek’s story can also be our story.
***
We become like Shrek any time we wander away from the Lord. Although we know his voice, for some reason we neglect it.
Perhaps we stop praying; we stop attending Mass; we begin holding things in; we hide the truth from others; we fall into an unhealthy habit; we sink into fear; or we avoid confessing our sins.
Over time, the weight we bear inside balloons to four, five, even six times what we actually need to carry.
Life can seem unnecessarily heavy until we are reunited with our Shepherd, much like Shrek was after six long years. And when Jesus finds us, he shaves off all of that excess “fleece” that’s been weighing us down.
Years of sin or guilt can be lifted in a matter of minutes. All it takes is an open heart; a willingness to surrender; and a cleansing confession.
***
If Shrek represents a soul that’s wandered away from God, then what does it look like to remain close by his side?
Using today’s Gospel imagery, a soul that is united with Christ is like one ox yoked to another.
“Come to me all you who are heavy burdened,” Jesus says, “and I will give you rest, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
So, what does it mean to be “yoked’ with Christ?
***
A yoke is a wooden apparatus that farmers use to pair two oxen together. Often an older, more experienced ox is paired with a younger ox in order to teach it how to plow.
Jesus likens himself to that stronger, more experienced ox who does not fatigue in the heat of the mid-day sun. “My yoke is easy and my burden is light,” he says.
We are the weaker ones who can depend upon him while plowing through the fields of life. Even when the day is long, the sun is high, and the weight is heavy, we shall not be overcome.
As Saint Paul reminds us, “God will not let you be tried beyond your strength. But with every trial will provide a way out so that you may be able to bear it.”
Our perspective changes – and broadens – once we recognize that Christ is plowing by our side. We can do all things through him who strengthens us.
***
Where do I need to yoke myself to Christ? What aspect of my life seems heavy or hard to carry?
“Come to me,” Jesus says, “and I will give you rest.”
***
Consider the difference between the sheep and the ox.
Shrek the sheep lived by himself for six challenging years. Meanwhile, the Lord invites us to share our burdens with him, much like a young ox who’s yoked to a stronger, more experienced one.
Which one would I rather be – the one who wanders, or the one who never journeys alone?
***
We are here to yoke ourselves to Christ.
As our vision statement reminds us: “All generations journeying together with Jesus to satisfy our hungry hearts. Come and see!”
***
***
Image credits: (1) Fr. Anthony Messeh (2) Ibid. (3) Business Insider: What a Sheep that Hasn’t been Shorn in Six Years Looks Like
