Thursday in the Fifteenth Week of Ordinary Time

Scripture Readings: Ex 3:13-20;  Mt 11:28-30                                          

“Take my yoke upon you.”   The yoke of Christ is light because he pulls the load with us.  But does his yoke mean more than helping us bear the burdens and crosses of life?

In times past a yoke made it possible for two animals to do many things that one ox or horse could not do alone.  With a well-fitting yoke two animals could more easily pull a plow through hard packed soil. When yoked together horses could pull a very heavy wagon, or lift a loaded pallet into the air by ropes and pulleys.  Yokes were used in forestry so draft animals could drag away the cut trees, and in quarries to move enormous stones, and along narrow canals to pull boats in summertime, or sleigh driven carriages in winter.  A yoke made it possible to do many things that couldn’t be done alone.  Is it the same with Christ’s yoke?

When Jesus says “Take my yoke upon you” is he also talking about our different vocations, the variety of ways in which Christ calls us to join with him in his work to save the world?  Yes, his yoke is our personal calling, the grace to do with him what we could never do alone when we accept his call and take his yoke upon us.