The word “yoke” has become a metaphor for something oppressive: the “yoke of slavery” and servitude. Jesus is concerned about people “who labor and are overburdened”. He had in mind some of the strict followers of the Jewish faith, whose religious life had become a burden. Scholars enumerated 613 laws which they enjoined people to keep. The idea was that by striving to keep these laws you made yourself pleasing to God. The overburdened people awaited a Savior. And Jesus invited those overburdened people, who had no hope of observing all the laws, to “Come to Me”. Come to me and follow me, rather than all those rules and regulations devised by the religious leaders. “Shoulder my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Those words sum up the ultimate purpose of our Catholic life; it is to find rest for our souls.
Shouldering Christ’s easy yoke, and learning from Him, is what He tells us to do. And we can do this in all sorts of ways. First of all, by experiencing His gentleness and humility so that we can love Him and realize His love for us. He does not want life to be a burden. He may suggest we let go in some ways, changing our priorities. Perhaps in saying “shoulder my yoke” Jesus is offering to help us with our burdens… “Come to Me” rather than seeking solace or relief in the ways of this world, for, as St. Paul says today, “your interests are not in the unspiritual, but in spiritual”. Jesus answers our prayers when we ask His help, and He gives us the strength to carry on with a peace that comes from the Spirit of Christ living in us.