Yolk

 

The Spiritual Waiting Room

Yolk

Shared   Burden

Grace   Love   Holy Spirit

Learn from Me Little Ones

Spiritual Rest

(Photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scripture:   Matthew 11:29

Jesus was speaking to the crowds and said,

"Take my yoke upon you and learn from me.

I am meek and humble of heart.

You will find rest with me."

Reflection

Jesus gives us a fascinating image to contemplate.

Just picture a huge field that is ready for cultivation.

Your plow is set to turn the soil over before you plant the seed.

You bring your two oxen over to the plow and yoke them together.

The two work in rhythm to get the soil ready and receptive. They are sharing the burden. It does not fall on just one of them. The two together can accomplish so much more and do it without exhaustion and fatigue.

It is so much like us in our attempts to follow Jesus more faithfully. Jesus showers us with His grace to help us. He never leaves us alone.

So many times I have been teaching and a word or thought comes to me that was never part of the original lesson plan. You know that Jesus is nourishing you and the Holy Spirit is guiding you. You are loved and Jesus is yolking you to Himself.

We learn this from the example of Jesus. He would always go off by Himself and spend time with the Father. He was yolked to the Father and the Holy Spirit. They always worked in harmony and unity. 

We worry sometimes that we have to save the world from evil and injustice. It seems like there are so many problems: war, poverty, greed, hunger, homelessness, discrimination, and crime. We can feel overwhelmed. 

Jesus reassures us that we will not be handling all these challenges by ourselves. He tells us that any burden that we might feel will be light and easy to bear.

He invites us to rest in Him. With Jesus next to us and yolked securely to us, we can take on the most difficult task and get it done. It might have seemed impossible; but we know all too well that all things are possible with Him. 

Jesus shows us the way by being "meek and humble of heart" as our reading from Matthew indicates. His Heart is always open for us and to us. He wants to embrace us with the inclusiveness of His Love.

The yolk will always be ready to lift our burdens and our aloneness. 

Jesus is one with us!

1. How has Jesus helped you as you have tried to bring the Good News to others?

2. Do you feel yolked to Jesus?

3. When and where do you rest in Jesus?

4. How does the Heart of Jesus embrace you?

5. What do you feel as you contemplate Kathy's photo?

(Scripture adaptation, reflection, and questions by John McNamara)