Seriously - how do we put on that yoke?

On Friday we were looking at why the yoke of Christ is easy, and His burden light.

The bottom line is that Christ doesn’t place burdens on us – His desire is to relieve us of the burdens that the fallen world piles on us, and that we place on ourself.

A viewer recently shared with us that she was experiencing tremendous pain because her young grandchildren were forced by court order to live when their abusive father (her former son-in-law).

That is truly a heavy burden.

And it’s a clear (and painful) illustration that Christ doesn’t promise we won’t have heavy burdens.  In fact, He warns that we should count on it (“in the world you will have troubles”).

Christ’s desire is that we come to Him with our burdens, so that He can ease them.

How do we do that?

Here’s one way – and what we recommended in the situation above.  Go to Christ in prayer, with scripture that relates to your situation.  In the case of the grandmother, we suggested praying with John Chapter 17, in which Jesus is asking the Father to watch over and protect His disciples after He is gone. 

The Church Fathers teach that part of Jesus’ agony in the garden was in concern for the welfare of His disciples.  He knew His execution would also put them to the test, and He would no longer be with them in the flesh, to protect them and help them through that trial.  He had to entrust them to the protection of God, just as the grandmother had to do with her grandchildren.

Going to Christ in His Sacraments and praying with our blessed Mother are absolutely indispensable.  

And then, when we connect with Jesus in Scripture and in prayer, we are “yoking” ourself to Him – inviting Him into our life so that He can bear our burdens with us (and many times for us).

Blessings on your journey with Christ –

Steve and Karen Smith

Interior Life

Postscript:  Mt 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."