I appreciate recitations. When I find the pace of things
heating up, reciting poetry can slow me down. When I get stuck waiting in a
grocery line or in heavy traffic, a familiar passage can bring me patience - or
at least distract me. One of my favourites is Matthew
11: 28-30.
‘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.’
I love the part about rest. What I’ve been thinking about
lately, though, is the yoke. Hmm.
Oxen are yoked: two oxen, yoked together, pull heavy loads.
Perhaps Jesus is telling us that spiritual rest doesn’t remove the burden. We still live our
lives, confronted by circumstances as well as events of our own making. We can
draw a breath and rest because we can share
our burden. And we, in turn, share his. We are not alone.
We do that for one another in a spiritual community, don’t
we? We are given one another to help with our load. And we share burdens we
would never know others carry, because of Jesus’ community.
One more thing: a good yoke fits smoothly. Good thing,
that, because I know some of your burdens are pretty heavy.
Blessings of companionship as we share the burdens of the
journey,
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