His Yoke
There are certain risks in my life that I’m not willing to take anymore.
Just as an actuary assesses the risk of certain events, I find that I am also assessing the risk of certain activities. For example, I am now wearing my bike helmet more. Some people may call that common sense, but I didn’t own a bike helmet for years, so that’s progress. Going to adventure parks these days means a thoughtful assessment of each roller coaster and erring on the safe side of avoiding neck and back injury. Thanks to some previous injuries, even lifting and moving things in everyday life require an assessment of body mechanics and load before the work begins.
Along with the risk of doing things comes the risk of not doing things. There is a risk in not doing certain things in life. Jesus’ words in this weekend’s Gospel remind us:
"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."
(Matthew 11:28-30)
The heading for this section of the Bible is called, “The gentle mastery of Christ.” That title struck me because what a description of Jesus’ love and desire to lead us with his “gentle mastery.” Gentle because he will not force himself upon us. Gentle because his “yoke is easy” and going to him is only difficult when we make it difficult. A mastery to be sure, because Jesus is God. But a gentle mastery because Jesus isn’t describing a scenario where he leads and desires to pull us along - with him ahead and us behind. He says that his “yoke is easy.” His yoke. Picture two oxen yoked together, side by side, or two horses yoked, side by side pulling a plow through the field working together. It’s not one ahead of the other, with one animal working ahead and harder than the other. They are yoked together to work with each other. And when they are yoked, there is no separating them. They follow the same path.
Now picture yourself yoked with Christ. Yes, he has an infinite advantage because he is God, but he desires to be yoked with you and with me. He knows the trials and burdens will be less for us if we are yoked with him. It’s up to us to assess the risk of not staying yoked with him. The risk of not going to him for rest is too huge to take. The risk of not going to him for words of advice and wisdom is too big.
To be clear, removing risk from our lives is not the end goal. Just look at the Saints. They took big risks! Many early Saints risked their lives to deliver the Eucharist to others during a time of heavy Christian persecution. St. Catherine of Siena stood up to the pope of her time. Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati served the poor, sick, and homeless, and gave away literally all that he had. They and many others risked it all while being yoked to Christ. They aligned their will with his and allowed him to lead them, while he was alongside them. Maybe they didn’t even see the risk of what they were doing because it was what they were called to do.
Remember to take his yoke. The work and trials are harder doing it alone. Reduce your risk and take the yoke that brings you alongside Jesus. The risk is too big not to.