Yoked!
“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” We tend to be a very weary people. There is, of course, the weariness that comes from the burden of sin, but there is also the fatigue that comes from trying to lead a righteous life on our own will power. It exhausts us. This is why Jesus says the words we heard in the reading today: “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” But then he says something that seems strange: “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:29-30). Isn’t taking on a yoke going to increase the burden? However, when you think of it, it isn’t. Have you ever seen oxen yoked togeth