BASED ON CATHOLIC LITURGICAL READINGS
14TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR A
THEME: “THE YOKE”
((Readings: 1st: Zech 9:9-10; Ps: 144; 2nd: Rom 8:9.11-13; Gos: Mt 11:25-30))
Today being the 14th Sunday in ordinary time, our Lord Jesus Christ gives us the greatest invitation ever; “Come to me, all you who labor and are overburdened, and I will give you rest. Shoulder my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Yes, my Yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Mt 11:29-30). What burdens are you carrying in your life? We all walk around with burdens of Sin, unforgiveness, Anger, greed, worries, anxiety, work, sickness, marriage problems, addiction, etc. We are yoked by all these spiritual, psychological, and physical burdens and therefore we are exhausted with life. Jesus is inviting you to shoulder his yoke which is easy and take his burden which is light and learn from his humility and gentleness of heart.
In the first reading, prophet Zechariah consoles the Jews living in Palestine under Greek rule (Yoke of oppression) promising them a “meek” messianic king of peace riding on a donkey, who will give them rest and liberty. The responsorial psalm is a song of praise to the compassionate God and King who raises up those who are bowed down under the heavy yokes of slavery. Similarly, St. Paul in the second reading tells the first-century Roman Christian community about two yokes, namely; “the yoke of the flesh” and “the Yoke of the Spirit”. He challenges them to reject the heavy and fatal yoke of the flesh and accept the light yoke of the Spirit of Jesus.
In the days of long ago, before farmers had tractors to do the work, donkeys, horses, or oxen were used to plough the land. A wooden crossbeam, called a YOKE, would be attached across the necks of the animals with reins that the farmer would hold to guide the animals in the right direction.
There are three types of Yokes in our life that I want us to reflect on today:
- THE YOKE OF THE FLESH
Before coming to Jesus, we were in the flesh, debtors to the flesh; we lived according to the flesh and so we die. In his letter to the Romans today, Paul writes “Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the spirit, if indeed the spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ” (Rom 8:7-9)
The yoke of the flesh is the physical appetites of our body and if you are controlled with such desires then you are under the yoke of flesh and you can never please God. The fruits of the yoke of the flesh are endless greed, lust, corruption, pride, anger, etc. In his letter to Galatian, St. Paul advises us to overcome the Yoke of the flesh by crucifying the flesh with its passions. Some saints did mortification of the flesh as part of the process of sanctification and setting their bodies free from the Yoke of the flesh. We need to discipline and control the passions and appetites of our flesh. “But they who are of Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and its lusts. (Gal 5:24)
- THE YOKE OF SATAN
Satan has bound billions of people with yokes of different types and degrees. The Yoke of Satan can also be described as a bondage of Sin. It is a big burden that makes us spiritually paralyzed. Are you suffering from the bondage of unforgiveness, worries, musturbation, drug, and alcohol addiction, fornication, gossiping witchcraft, and curses? Do you know why you are not able to stop? Satan has kept his Yoke/chains on you therefore he has control over your life.
Jesus Christ is the Yoke breaker; He breaks every evil chain binding you. He destroys every weapon of affliction against your life, evil powers, and satanic agenda in your life. In a special way, Jesus invites YOU ALL WHO LABOR AND ARE OVERBURDENED, by the yoke of Satan and he will give you rest. Surrender yourself to this compassionate and loving master and He will set you free.
- THE YOKE OF JESUS
Today we are celebrating a great invitation by Jesus who is asking you to surrender to him your burdens and take up his yoke. “Shoulder my Yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart, and you will find rest in your souls. Yes, my Yoke is easy and my burden is light. Amen”: What is the Yoke of Jesus? What is the burden of Jesus? The Yoke of Jesus is the spirit of God that dwells in us that we all received during baptism and confirmation. When we listen to the promptings and direction of the Holy Spirit we are being Yoked by Jesus. We are saved and sanctified by the grace of God and fortified by the Holy Spirit.
The burden of Jesus refers to the commandment of God, the teachings of Jesus Christ. It is a light burden because they are not oppressive, and the grace of God enables us to fulfill them. They are light and easy because we take them with love as Jesus did. When we carry these divine burdens with love then we will find rest and fulfillment for our souls. Jesus promises a dominion of peace, not as the world gives but as the Spirit gives it.
In a nutshell, dear friend, our Sunday liturgy is fashioned in this great invitation. We all come to church with all types of burdens and the priest invites us to surrender them to God during the penitential rite. God absolves them all, then we sing with Joy the Gloria. We listen to the readings and preach in order to learn from him who is humble and gentle of heart. By professing the creed once more willing we take up his Yoke that is easy and his burden that is light. Through the offertory and sacrifice on the altar, we offer ourselves entirely to God. Ultimately, we thank God and receive the blessing from the priest and go home with the Peace of Christ and Joy. Amen
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” [James 4:7]
Prayer of Surrender: I surrender to you O God, my body, my soul, my worries, my burdens, and my whole life. Amen
Fr. Antony Muchui, SVD
Blessed Sunday (Do you want to become a Divine word missionary? Contact our vocation office +255 629269140 or +254 792 299 140)
SVD JAMBO KENTAN 