My Yoke is Light to Bear

A Reflection on the Gospel for July 9th, 2023:
​14th Sunday in Ordinary Time

---

Matthew
11.25-30

At that time Jesus said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.”

He continued: “All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

My father is a musician. When I was a little girl, maybe seven years old, my dad started writing a song based on today’s Gospel. I was a little girl, maybe seven years old. I can still picture him with his acoustic guitar in hand, excitedly telling my mom and me that he had just written something. He sat down and played and sang it for us. 

“Come walk a mile with me
And I will set you free
From all your sorrows and your woes

My burden’s light to carry
My yoke is light to bear….”

Nearly thirty years later, this melody and the opening verse are as vividly stamped into my memory as when I first heard them. Just as my dad knew when the song came to him, these words are special – powerful – because of the truth in the Scripture upon which they are based. 

“For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Jesus offers us a choice. The world has many yokes from which to choose. Some are glamorous and shiny, others are stimulating and exciting; still more are beautiful and unique. Some look dependable and sturdy, promising a level of comfort and security that no other yokes will provide. But only Jesus offers the yoke that promises rest, ease, and wisdom. The thing is, we won’t know exactly where He’s going to lead us, or what He’s going to ask us to carry. All we know is that He’ll help us bear the load – indeed, he’ll carry most of it, and what’s more, He’ll give us the ultimate place to rest. Unlike any worldly master, Jesus is gentle and humble of heart. All we have to do is trust Him and follow where He leads.

My dad never did write another verse. In fact, we’ve been talking about how to finish writing it together. But in some ways, the song is finished, because it makes clear the most important part of the message: come walk with Jesus, and He will set us free. 




Kim Tan

---