Today’s Mass readings are rich with the promises of freedom for the fearful, the overwhelmed, and those held in bondage and oppression.
In the first reading, God says to Moses, “I Am who am….tell the children of Israel, I Am sent me to you.”
God IS. As I take this one thought and meditate upon it, a wave of relief, rest, peace, and joy washes over me. To a generation that sees ourselves as ‘humans doing’ instead of human beings, this is a call to refreshment in the eternal presence of the One who IS, a reminder to “Be still and know that HE is God.”
“I am concerned about you and about the way you are being treated in Egypt; so I have decided to lead you up out of the misery of Egypt into the land…flowing with milk and honey.” (Exodus 3:16)
Come to Me
Jesus came to give us life in abundance. (John 10:10) But we all have an oppressor – the thief who comes to kill, steal, and destroy, and an Egypt – an area of bondage, struggle, and suffering that we have been battling with. Sadly, many of us have willingly chosen our Egypt – false ideologies and disordered affections that have a vice-like grip on us. We ask ourselves: Is true freedom even possible? Can Christ really save me and my family?
Jesus offers us the key to freedom in Matthew 11:28; Come to Me all you who labour 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.
Bonded labour!
According to Collins Dictionary, a yoke is a long piece of wood which is tied across the necks of two animals such as oxen, in order to make them walk close together when they are pulling a plough. The word yoke is often used as a metaphor for bondage or servitude.
Jesus is inviting me out of my yoke into His yoke – out of servitude to my own material imperatives and lifestyle goals into a single-minded commitment to His kingdom. Instead of worrying, I choose to be free – I leave the care of ‘my’ vineyard to Him. As we care, share and labour together, the attachment is so intimate that I can feel and hear His breath. I sense immediately when He needs me to change direction. I am aware that in no task am I alone or bereft of assistance. Jesus’ yoke is the confident knowledge that His strong shoulders have borne all my sin and shame. Jesus graciously grants me the dignity and privilege of sharing in His work and suffering, so that I may one day share in His glory.
May we all learn to rest in Jesus and trust Him intimately. Through our witness many will know Him and be saved. The moment I put Jesus back in first place, the yoke becomes lighter and easier.
