The Sweet Yoke
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July 8, 2017“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.” (Mt 11:28-30)
This passage has a beautiful structure to it that may be summarized as follows:
Heavy burden – Rest – Christ’s Yoke – Rest – Light burden
Known as a chiasm, this pattern of mirroring concepts makes use of some key themes from the Old and New Testaments to throw light on the central element: the yoke of Christ.
Burden
The theme of a heavy burden, symbolized by the yoke, is a typical way of speaking about oppression in the Old Testament. Israel’s history is one of enduring and being released from successive oppressions by God.
The Exodus from Egypt: “Therefore, say to the Israelites: I am the Lord. I will free you from the burdens of the Egyptians and will deliver you from their slavery. I will redeem you by my outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment.” (Ex 6:6)
The Babylonian Exile: “For the yoke that burdened them, the pole on their shoulder, the rod of their taskmaster, you have smashed, as on the day of Midian.” (Isa 9:3)
Jesus also uses this image to refer to the Mosaic Law as interpreted by the Pharisees – a burden he wishes to lift:
“They tie up heavy burdens [hard to carry] and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to move them.” (Mt 23:4)
Rest
Rest is also a key biblical concept, going back to the earliest days of creation:
God rested on the seventh day: “On the seventh day God completed the work he had been doing; he rested on the seventh day from all the work he had undertaken.” (Gn 2:2)
Man sinned and was cursed to toil, rather than entering into God’s rest: “Cursed is the ground because of you! In toil you shall eat its yield all the days of your life.” (Gn 3:17)
In Egypt, Moses pleaded for a rest from the people’s labor, but none was allowed: “Pharaoh continued, ‘Look how they are already more numerous than the people of the land, and yet you would give them rest from their labors!’” (Ex 5:5)
Having noticed that no real and permanent rest was found by Israel in the Promised Land, or in their practice of the Law, the author of the Letter to the Hebrews expands upon the concept of rest by speaking of its eschatological meaning: “Therefore, a sabbath rest still remains for the people of God. And whoever enters into God’s rest, rests from his own works as God did from his. Therefore, let us strive to enter into that rest.” (Hb 4:9-11)
Yoke
The yoke has two distinct meanings in Scripture – a negative and a positive one. First, as already noted, the yoke is the symbol of a heavy burden, punishment, servitude or oppression:
“The yoke and harness will bow the neck;
and for a wicked slave, punishment in the stocks.” (Sir 33:27)
The Lord is the one who uses such a yoke to chastise his people and bring them to repentance, but also removes or breaks the yoke to save his people:
“On that day—oracle of the Lord of hosts—I will break his yoke off your neck and snap your bonds. Strangers shall no longer enslave them.” (Jer 30:8)
Second, there is a symbolic reading of the Law or of Wisdom as a yoke:
“Listen, my child, and take my advice;
do not refuse my counsel.
Put your feet into her fetters,
and your neck under her yoke.
Bend your shoulders and carry her
and do not be irked at her bonds.
With all your soul draw close to her;
and with all your strength keep her ways.
Inquire and search, seek and find;
when you get hold of her, do not let her go.
Thus at last you will find rest in her,
and she will become your joy.” (Sir 6:23-28)
This passage is the single most important one for understanding today’s gospel, since it makes clear that following the way of God is both challenging and joyful. It involves both “bonds” and “rest.” It is significant that wisdom is not only symbolized by the yoke but also personified as a woman, to whom one is called to “draw close.” Jesus is identified with wisdom in the gospels, and in today’s passage he says: “Come to me,” and points to himself as the source of rest: “Learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart.”
In our lives we have no shortage of burdens, and who does not yearn for rest? But what exactly is Jesus offering us – a yoke that is both burden and rest? He offers us himself. The yoke is Wisdom, the yoke is Christ. “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Gal 3:27). It is the yoke of one who loves you. “Put on love” (Col 3:14). His love makes all things possible, even easy, light, sweet and joyful. It doesn’t always feel that way. It sometimes feels like endless, meaningless toil. But this verse has the potential to break through the crust of cynicism built up by heavy burdens of various kinds. The sadness that creeps in, the doubts, the weariness, the temptation to throw in the towel and live only for oneself – these are an illusion, a trick, a web woven over us that must be torn away by the one who is gentle and humble of heart. “Walk in the way of love, by loving as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (Eph 5:2).
Image: Statue of Christ the Redeemer, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
