Would you like to be confused by a beautiful Gospel passage? “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).

What makes this confusing is the simplicity of the words: “take my yoke” … “it is easy” … “it is light.” Among the several definitions of the word yoke we can find these two: “an agency of oppression, subjection, servitude, etc.;  an emblem or symbol of subjection, servitude, slavery.” If following Jesus can be associated with oppression, servitude and slavery, how can that be light and easy? On the surface, this seems incongruous. But consider it more closely.

Jesus carried that same burden, and He carried it to Calvary. Jesus paid the price for our human failures out of perfect love for you and for me; we are redeemed, and He promises salvation for those who accept it. “Promises;” the present tense. Jesus’ promise is real and effective, but we need to do our part.  Jesus begins his words in today’s Gospel by reminding us that He reveals His words and mission to little ones, to those who accept his challenge with the innocence of a child.

Let us not complicate His Words; let me not complicate His Words by using too many of my own!

Jesus carries the burden first, and He allows us, invites us to simply share in that burden by connecting ourselves to Him. He will always be carrying the heaviest part of our burdens, and so we can accept His strength, which gives us rest. Alternatively, we can try and solve every burden and challenge on our own, with our limited human wisdom and limited human strength. On our own, we will find the burden too great, and we will seek to find short-cuts and alternative paths.

Let’s commit to the easy path; take our Lord’s hand, and allow Him to show us how to walk, how to find our own balance while he steadies the burdens. Be grateful that He chooses to carry the burdens for us, and let go of what weights us down when we over-think our struggle.

“Yes, Lord, I know that we will rise with you on the last day,” Martha of Bethany said to Jesus. “Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26).

Believe it. Live it.