catholic family faith

Jesus, the Bigger Ox (Matthew 11:25-30)

I have often struggled with Jesus’ words, “For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”  Have you ever watched the harnessing of a team of oxen or horses?  Yokes don’t look very easy and light; they look rather burdensome.  So why would Jesus say that his yoke is easy and his burden light?

When one ox is yoked, the responsibility for pulling the cart or the plow is totally on that one ox.  The ox feels the weight and the burden alone.  It can be a struggle to get through hard, packed sod.  But when a team of two oxen are yoked together, they work side by side, adding their weight to the weight of the partner to pull the cart or plow.  By working together, their burden becomes a little lighter.

When Jesus asks us to take on his yoke, he is offering us a double yoke.  He is letting us know that he is going to team up with us to carry our burdens.  Jesus adds his weight to ours to pull us through difficult times. 

But Jesus does more than just add his weight to help us pull our burdens.  As our Savior, Jesus is the bigger ox.  As the bigger ox, Jesus will pull more of the weight of the burden.  By pulling the bigger part of the burden, Jesus makes our part of the yoke light, allowing us to rest. 

All we need to do is accept Jesus’ double yoke and let him pull the majority of the weight of our burdens.

 

Lord's Day Faith Chat - 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time - July 6, 2008

BEFORE MASS

Take 30 seconds:  What is a burden that you are carrying right now?

Scripture Readings:  Zechariah 9:9-10; Psalm 145:1-2,8-11,13-14; Romans 8:9,11-13; Matthew 11:25-30

Family Perspective:  The image of the yoke is not well understood in our American society.  When oxen are used to plow fields or pull carts, if the load is very heavy and burdensome, two oxen are yoked together to help one another pull the load.  In our families, we must remember that we never have to face our burdens alone, we always have our family members to help us.  We also have Jesus.  As you face your burdens – work, studies, family issues, etc. – imagine that you are yoked to Jesus.  Jesus will help you pull your load, carry your burden.  And you can even allow him to do the most pulling to get you through.

 

AFTER MASS

Chat:

Adults/Youth/Children:  Jesus invites us to bring him our burdens and promises us that he will give us rest.  How do you rely on Jesus during times of trouble?  When has Jesus helped you?

Family Response:  Have the members of your family draw or write about their conflicts and burdens.  Instruct them to place these papers in an appropriate container for burning.  Remind the family that this burning symbolizes our letting go of the conflicts and struggles by placing them in Jesus’ hands.

Pray:  Loving Jesus, you assure us that you will walk be with us as we face our burdens.  Help us to find our rest in you.  Amen.