07.05.2020 Homily

Jesus uses images that his audience would readily understand and experience. He uses images of agriculture. He uses images of fishing. He, he uses images that relate immediately to the people who are, who are listening to him. And this is an agricultural image that he chooses today. He says, come to me, take my yoke upon your shoulders. Learn from me. I am meek and humble of heart. The yolk was made of wood. It was carved to fit over the neck and the shoulders of the animal. It prevented pain and discomfort. The word yoke was a term to describe submission. Two oxen were chosen to share the yolk one and older mature, and one young and immature by sharing the yolk with a veteran, the younger one is trained the experience. One draws harder to bear the majority of the load. 

And so the older one carries the majority of that load. The older one leads so that the younger one does not have to wander around and wonder what to do. The younger one learns from his mentor. It gains wisdom and he gained skill. This is the image that Jesus is using. Now the image of the yolk for the people of Israel was the image of the law that God in his goodness had placed the law upon the shoulders of the people of Israel. And as they walked, they walked in fulfillment in, in obedience and submission to that law. And there was someone to teach the young one. They would walk together. So there would be a rabbi and a student, or there would be an older person and a younger person. 

Now the law was interpreted by the Pharisees in a very burdensome way. Jesus said at one point that you are not to imitate what the Pharisees do. They bind up heavy burdens and they lay them on people's shoulders. And yet they're not willing to lift so much as a finger to help them carry it. Jesus says, you're tired of that. That's burdensome. So come to me, all of you who find this burdensome, and I will refresh you, take my yoke upon your shoulders. The yoke that Jesus offers is the mercy of the father. Take my yoke upon your shoulders. 

Learn from me. I'm the seasoned one. I'm the experienced one. You don't have to know everything. Just watch me learn from me or I am meek and humble of heart. And if you do this, you will find rest for your souls. Now, in summary of this teaching, we might say that the yolk is the merciful love of God. Jesus is the messenger of God's mercy. And what Jesus says to you and to me this day is get in yoke with me. Let me lead you. I will bear the weight of your burden. My yoke is good. You will find rest and companionship as we work together.