Today's Advent reflection is on Matthew 11:28-30 from Mr. Clint Felts.
I’ve always found this passage of Matthew’s gospel to be somewhat paradoxical. On the one hand, it is comforting: Jesus invites us to rest in him from the struggles and burdens of life. But on the other hand, he tells us to take his yoke upon us. A yoke is a harness put on animals (typically oxen) so they can pull a plow or cart; in other words, they wear it to work. I don’t know about you, but work and rest seem like opposites to me. And while he does say, “My yoke is easy, and my burden light,” we know that following Jesus is often challenging. We’re called—as Jesus bluntly puts it—to take up our cross. This does not sound restful, easy, or light.
In reflecting on and praying with this passage, however, I was struck by two things. First, Jesus says to take his yoke. A yoke would typically be strapped onto two animals, not one. In other words, Jesus is not asking us to do this alone. He promises to be right beside us and to give us whatever graces we need in whatever situations we find ourselves in. We can experience this grace in numerous ways: through people in our lives, through the sacraments, and through time spent in prayer. We only need to ask for it and be open to receiving it in whatever way it comes.
Still, taking on a burden does not sound appealing, but if we’re honest, we will admit that we are probably already burdened by the struggles and difficulties we all face. Christ’s yoke frees us from the even heavier burdens we carry. It can be difficult to be generous with others or put them ahead of ourselves, but a life of selfishness ultimately leads to profound loneliness. It can be difficult to fight temptation and sin, but if we don’t, we give up our freedom and become enslaved to our impulses. It can be difficult to forgive or to love our enemies, but carrying the weight of hatred cripples our joy. The life Jesus calls us to may be challenging at times, but it ultimately leads to a more fulfilling, peaceful, and easy life, one free of unnecessary burdens we might otherwise carry.
This Advent, let’s ask God for his grace in the challenges of life and know that he promises to always walk alongside us. Let’s seek to give up our heavy burdens and to allow Jesus to work in our lives, so that in doing so, we may find rest.
