14th Sunday in Ordinary Time

July 9, 2023

Matthew 11:25-30

I am incredibly blessed to be given to opportunity to study my doctorate in Sacred Scripture (Biblical Theology) in Rome, at the very heart of the Catholic Church. Let me share why I chose the specific field and how my love for the Word of God began. And it is closely related to today’s Gospel.

When I was still in the Novitiate (the beginning of my religious life), I read this particular verse in which Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke… for My yoke easy and my burden is light (Mat 11:28-30).”  A yoke is an instrument men or animals use, like oxen or donkeys, to carry a burden. The yoke usually is carried on the shoulders. Initially, I imagined that we had our yokes to carry, burdensome. This yoke represents various unnecessary burdens and problems in our lives. Then, Jesus asks us to remove this unnecessary yoke and take up the yoke that Jesus has prepared for us. So, it is essentially about ‘changing’ or ‘transferring’ of the yoke. Jesus’ yoke is lighter than our yokes; therefore, it is lighter and gives us rest.

However, a priest still studying for his doctorate in Sacred Scriptures visited us once. He shared some of his knowledge with us, and at one point, he told us about the yoke. In ancient Palestine (like in many places), there was a type of yoke that two men or animals could carry. The yoke is designed to distribute the burden to both shoulders equally. Thus, when Jesus said, ‘Take my yoke…” Jesus did not simply give us the yoke, but He shares the yoke and carries together with us. Then, when we are tired, Jesus will take much of the burden so that we may find rest.

The priest’s explanation was simple because I am familiar with this type of yoke as I used to see it when I was little. Yet, when he connected to Jesus’ yoke and found rest, it blew my mind and captured my heart. There is something more than what meets the eye. The Word of God is rich and fascinating. If a simple word like ‘yoke’ can have a profound meaning, it must also be true with other words, sentences and realities in the Bible. Then, I began reading a lot of commentaries and explanations on various biblical verses. The more I learn, the more I am drawn into the bottomless yet beautiful mystery. As I progressed in my vocation, I decided to focus my study in this field.

Does the story of Yoke end in my discovery in Novitiate? No! As I entered my theological studies, I discovered one particular catholic theology: the theology of participation. This theology teaches us that God is indeed the principal agent of redemption, but He does not treat us just as passive recipients. He made us active participants in His work of salvation. Yes, Jesus died and rose for us, but we also need to participate in this mystery of redemption by faith, hope and charity.

Then, as I connect it to the ‘yoke,’ the theology of participation makes even more sense. If we carry our yoke by ourselves, it is nothing but dead weight. But, when we participate in the yoke of Christ, our burdens will be lighter and have spiritual value. Yes, we cannot often escape many burdensome situations in our lives, but when we unite them to Jesus’ cross and faithfully carry them, they become spiritual blessings.

What is our daily yoke? Do we carry them alone? Do we offer them to the Lord? Do we participate in Jesus’ Yoke?

Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP