Shared Yoke

My yoke is easy, and my burden light. (Matthew 11:30) 

While the image of a yoke was familiar to Jesus’ audience, we modern readers may not be able to relate so easily. A yoke is made for two, like a team of oxen. When oxen are young, they are taught to pull together when hitched to the yoke. When one ox tries to go one way and the other a different way, they experience the pain of pulling against the yoke. The harder they fight it, the worse it gets.
So in one sense, we can say that the yoke punishes and burdens the oxen. But when both are going in the same direction, it actually makes their work easier. Usually one ox takes the lead and sets the direction, while the second ox learns how to follow. As they learn the positive and negative effects of the yoke over time, they discover how beneficial it can be.

This helps us understand Jesus’ saying that being yoked to him lightens our burdens. That’s the way a yoke is supposed to work! It teaches us to let him set the course. It teaches us to follow the One who has yoked himself to us in a covenant of love. We also experience what happens as we try to go our own way. We see how fighting God’s lead causes us pain. As Paul understood in Acts 26:14, by kicking “against the goad” (a tool used to drive oxen), he only hurt himself. But when he followed Jesus, he was far more peaceful—and far more fruitful!

Because we are humans, we are designed to learn through trial and—sometimes painful—error. That may sound harsh, but we can be confident that Jesus is extremely patient. He never stops loving us and trying to lead us. He knows that we will become more docile to his leading as we experience the wonderful effects of following him. He is confident that we will learn.

Yes, Jesus’ yoke is easy—because the One who leads us is walking beside us in the yoke. He shares all of our burdens. He invites us to enter into his rest. All he asks is that we follow his lead.

“Jesus, I want to learn your gentleness and humility as I walk with you. Teach me to move in step with you and your Spirit.”

from wau.org

Spiritual wealth

Jesus Christ . . . became poor although he was rich, so that by his poverty you might become rich. (2 Corinthians 8:9) 

In a surprising headline in 2010, Austrian millionaire Karl Rabeder announced that he was selling all of his properties and businesses. At age forty-seven, he had become convinced that he needed to stop what he was doing and begin his real life. His goal was to “have nothing left, absolutely nothing.” So he set up an organization to help people in developing countries and transferred all his money to its accounts. Rabeder, a rich man, made himself poor in order to enrich the lives of the needy.

That’s not a bad image to consider today. Like Karl Rabeder, Jesus emptied himself for us so that we could be filled with his spiritual riches.

Jesus was seated with the Father and the Holy Spirit in heaven. He felt no need or shortage at all—only perfect harmony, love, majesty, and holiness. Not only that, but at his word, glorious things came to be. It’s hard to imagine any greater richness than that. 

And yet as rich as he was, he gave it all up when he came to earth. He was born in a stable to a poor carpenter and his wife. He spent his childhood in simplicity, learning his father’s trade. He became a wandering rabbi, traveling the countryside and healing the broken and the sick. He spent sleepless nights in prayer and endless days ministering to the needy. And in the end, when he most needed their support, all his friends abandoned him, leaving him to die a shameful death alone.

Why did he go through all of that? Simply to make you rich. He set aside his glory so that he could give you unlimited forgiveness, access to heaven, and the ability to know God in a personal way. Because of the riches of his grace, you can walk with him and love other people as fully as he did.

Why live like a pauper when Jesus has made you rich? Don’t be afraid to ask him for more—more mercy, more forgiveness, more wisdom, more joy. Jesus doesn’t want to see you living like you’re bankrupt. He gave everything up to make you spiritually rich! 

“Lord Jesus, thank you for your immense generosity. Help me accept all the riches you have offered me.”

from wau.org

"Spiritual DNA"

Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. (John 14:9) 

When you were a child, someone may have told you, “You’re the spitting image of your dad.” Or “Your eyes remind me so much of your mother’s.” Or maybe you heard “You have your father’s laugh” or “You have your mother’s nose.” These remarks reflect the truth that we don’t just pop into the world as completely independent beings. We inherit our physical makeup from our parents. Even in the case of someone who has never met our family, there’s still some truth to the fact that when they meet us, they are meeting our parents as well. 

If this is true about human parents and children, imagine how much more it is for Jesus and his heavenly Father! He even says as much in today’s Gospel: “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). All of his Father’s love and power were wrapped up in everything Jesus said and did.

Now for the really good news: because the Spirit lives within us, we too are infused with God’s love and power. We are sons and daughters of God who carry our Father’s “spiritual DNA.” Of course, like any other child, we still have to grow into our inheritance. But isn’t it wonderful to know we have all the tools we need to do just that?

You are a child of God. Hold on to this truth every day—especially when you are confronted with sin and weakness. Remember the goodness that your Father has placed in you when you are reminded of your failings. Remember that you have been filled with divine grace to help you live a holy life. Remember who you are—and whose you are. [Emphasis mine]

When you have an impossible deadline at work, remember Jesus, who persevered through long days of ministry. Ask for his strength to carry on. When you are offended and want to retaliate, remember Jesus, who silently endured the cross. Ask the Spirit for his patience and compassion. When you want to offer to pray with a friend but feel afraid, remember your heavenly brothers and sisters, the saints. Let their boldness embolden you. Who knows? Before the day is over, someone might say, “You know, I see something different in you. What could it be?” 

“Father, may I reflect your presence within me today.” 

from wau.org

Abundance of life (John 10:10)

. . . so that they might have life . . . more abundantly. (John 10:10)

“But I already have life,” you might argue. True, and yet there is more. With Jesus there is always more. Whatever degree of “life” you experience today, there’s more waiting for you. Thoughts and temptations may try to convince you otherwise, but Jesus is clear. He came to this earth, in fact, so that you would experience rich, overflowing life. Rich, in grace and gifts from God your Father; overflowing, in God’s love that fills your heart and spills out to people around you.

This abundant life is already yours through the Spirit you received in Baptism, so why not experience it? Here are a few ways you can discover it.

You can know this abundant life in your thoughts. You don’t have to be a slave to negative or critical thoughts. Jesus came so that you might think the best of yourself and other people, even those who have hurt you. Perhaps it means praying, “Father, forgive” hundreds of times a day. Or “Holy Spirit, help me know how you think” repeatedly. It might mean trying to focus your mind on God’s goodness, not about who has hurt you, or on what God has promised you rather than any troubles that might happen. 

You can know abundant life in your words too. Your words can influence the atmosphere around you; they can heal, comfort, encourage, and impart wisdom. Try telling yourself, “My prayers are powerful” or “Jesus lives in me.” A simple statement such as “What a good daughter you are” might encourage someone caring for an ailing parent. Words like these, words of grace and truth, pleasant and insightful, can flow out of your mouth as Jesus’ love fills your heart. And of course, there’s much grace in knowing when to keep quiet. 

Jesus also came so that your actions might flow out of his abundance. The smallest actions—taking soup to a sick friend or mowing a neighbor’s lawn—bear fruit, even if you never see it. When you take a moment to comfort someone, you are bringing Christ, and his abundant life, to them. When you spend a few minutes in prayer before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, you are receiving even more of that life so that you can keep sharing it with other people.

Jesus always has more to give you!

“Thank you, Lord, for giving me abundant life.”

from wau.org

Look up

Whoever keeps my word will never see death. (John 8:51) 

If you were to take an immersion language course in French, from the moment you enter the classroom until the moment you leave, every word you hear and every word you speak would be in French. No English. Not a single word. Similarly, we could say that in today’s Gospel, Jesus is conducting an immersion class in the language of heaven.

A long debate between Jesus and his opponents has brought them to the question of his claim to be the Son of God. “It is my Father who glorifies me,” he tells them (John 8:54). “I know him. . . and I keep his word” (8:55). His opponents can’t seem to settle on who they think he is: “Where is your Father?” “Who are you?” “You are a Samaritan” “You are possessed.” “Who do you make yourself out to be?” (John 8:19, 25, 48, 52, 53).

Nearly two millennia of Old Testament history had brought Jesus and the Jewish authorities to this point of impasse. These were faithful Jews intent on honoring God’s covenant with Abraham. But Jesus insists that he himself is the fulfillment of God’s covenant promises. Their focus on their long-held expectations blocks their understanding. But Jesus doesn’t give up. He continues to show them an unimaginable future in which Abraham is waiting for them.

Jesus is still leading us today. Every day he is at the top of a hill looking over into a beautiful land and inviting us to join him: “Whoever keeps my word will never see death” (John 8:51). He is asking us to trust him and to follow him into that new promised land. 

Let’s believe Jesus today. Let’s keep his word today and every day until we have made it over the hill and into our new home. We do that by fixing our eyes on Jesus. His cross is like a trail marker; it points us to the path of self-giving love. His resurrection tells us that our biggest obstacles, sin and death, have been defeated. And his ascension tells us that the gates of heaven have been opened—for all of us! 

“Jesus, I believe that you are the way to heaven. Help me to turn from any paths that do not lead to you.”

from wau.org

The power of worsip

Blessed are you, O Lord . . . , praiseworthy and exalted above all forever. (Daniel 3:52)

It makes sense to cry out to God for help when we’re struggling. But the Scriptures also show us people praising God when they’re in dire straits. In today’s first reading, for instance, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego have been thrown into a white-hot furnace because they refuse to worship King Nebuchadnezzar’s gods. But instead of panicking and crying out in fear, they walk about in the flames, “singing to God and blessing the Lord” (Daniel 3:24). 

Two things happen as the three men in the fiery furnace praise God. First, they are supernaturally protected—the flames don’t harm them. Second, they realize that they are not alone: there is a fourth man in the furnace with them, who “looks like a son of God” (Daniel 3:92).

We all face challenges in life; we all feel at times that we are in a white-hot furnace of our own. Our first reaction is usually to cry out to God to save us. There’s nothing wrong with that—God wants us to call on him in our need. But what if we decided to take a deep breath and offer him praise as well?

Like the “fourth man” appearing in the furnace, the act of praising God in some mysterious way makes him more present to us. We know that he might not always protect us from harm in miraculous ways as he did for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. We know that he might not take away the challenges we face. But we become more aware that he is with us, and we become more confident that he will never leave us or forsake us.

Something else happens as we step out in faith and decide to praise God: we go from focusing on our problems to focusing on him. That stirs up our hope and confidence in God. We understand in a deeper way that we have a great and mighty God who will love us, not just in our present troubles, but into eternity.

What’s the number one challenge you are facing right now? Today, visualize placing it on an altar and lifting your arms and hands in worship. Then use today’s responsorial psalm to praise the Lord. Even if your situation doesn’t change, your heart will. 

“Thank you, Lord, for your saving power! I want to praise you always!”

from wau.org

What do you see

When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I am. (John 8:28) 

When Moses lifted up the bronze serpent, the people who gazed on it saw two things. First, they got a graphic look at their own sins. Grumbling, blaming, and complaining are as deadly as serpents. They slither their way between people and interfere with God’s ability to take care of them. Second, they got a look at God’s mercy. Whoever looked at the bronze serpent was instantly healed.

In the same way, when we gaze at Jesus lifted up on the cross, we see ourselves and Jesus more clearly.

Looking at the cross, we can see ourselves as capable of wounding people by our indifference, our selfishness, and our pride. We see that we can be like Pilate as we wash our hands of responsibility for the needy. We are the soldiers mistreating the people we don’t respect. We are the mob, easily swayed by the fad or feeling of the moment, rejecting anyone who seems out of step. We are the would-be followers running away at the first sign of trouble. We are the faithful friends, helpless and disconsolate, immobilized by fear. We see how our own actions have caused the pain that Jesus is experiencing as he hangs on the cross, suffering for our sins.

But that’s not all. Gazing at the cross, we also see a God who became man because he loves us. We see Jesus looking at each of us with great tenderness and compassion. We hear him promising forgiveness and eternal life to anyone who turns to him in repentance. We see a Messiah who loves us unconditionally, who loves us enough to endure and conquer not only our sins but death itself.

Spend some time in front of a crucifix today, either at home or in church. Don’t worry about whether you have anything to say to Jesus. Just kneel there, and gaze at him in wonder and gratitude. Have the courage to look at whatever he reveals about yourself, but don’t stop there. Keep on gazing until you feel his love driving out your sin and bringing you into the presence of Jesus, your brother and Redeemer.

“Thank you, Lord, for loving me enough to be lifted up on the cross.”

from wau.org