Yoked to Christ

I’m a city boy through and through. Although I grew up regularly camping and enjoying the outdoors of Colorado, I am fully city. The only thing I knew about farm animals was what I saw on TV or watched at the zoo. I never even knew what a yoke was, let alone wanted to wear one.

The Lord said to his disciples, “All things have been delivered to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and any one to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.  Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Matthew 11:27-30

I’ve heard this passage for years, but never appreciated what it meant until much later in life. I had seen oxen on TV wearing a yoke before, but never made the connection. I guess that is my confession.

Then I began teaching premarital seminars and realized the Greek word for ‘spouse’ was σύζυγος or YOKE. I must admit my marriage and my advice to couples instantly changed once I realized the connection. We are yoked to our spouse like oxen.

Christ invites the same relationship to Him. In today’s Gospel reading, chosen to honor the commemoration of Saint Athanasios of Mount Athos who was a great spiritual elder of monasticism, Christ says, “Take my yoke upon you.” What does it mean to be yoked to Christ?

For starters, it means that He will help us navigate the path just as oxen help each other. Secondly, it means that we will find rest for our souls when we follow His path. Finally, it means we cannot remain yoked to Him if we choose a different path.

The yoke breaks if both oxen are not on the same path. What is true for oxen in the field is true for spouses in a marriage. It is true between us and Christ. If we want the yoke to remain solid, we will stay on the path.

There is another benefit to being yoked. When one ox is weak, the other carries a bit more of the load. The yoke also distributes the weight evenly to both, giving them the ability to carry even more weight. Without the yoke, no single animal is successful.

All that imagery is in today’s Gospel lesson. We are helped by Christ. We are guided by Christ. We are able to bear the great burdens of life. Carrying a huge wooden plank of wood around our neck might not sound pleasant, but when it is yoked to Christ it makes all the difference.