DAILY HOMILIES #yoke

Besides simply coming to Him, Jesus wants us to take His yoke and learn from him. In a world where might is right and people would rather have their way with violence, Jesus wants us to know from his simplicity, gentleness and lowliness. As he said: “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” Peter wanted to fight on the night of His arrest, but Jesus said: “Put your sword back into its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword.” (Matthew 26:52).

Are you troubled? Is your heart restless? You can’t find sleep at night? Get down on your knees and talk to Jesus. Go to the Blessed Sacrament and sit before Jesus. Carry His Yoke – Keep doing what is right. However tough as this yoke may seem, it is lighter than the yoke of running to the devil for a solution or abandoning your faith out of annoyance.

When Jesus says we should carry his yoke, he speaks figuratively referring to those things we must do as his followers. Like a farmer ties a yoke on oxen in order to use them to work on the farm, Jesus wants us to carry His Yoke; be controlled by his teaching; to work in promoting God’s kingdom. Moreover, Jesus went further to add that this yoke is easy and the burden (sacrifices, pains, commitments) that come with carrying the yoke is very light.