Fr Luke Macnamara OSB
Today we get a rare chance in the Gospel of Matthew to overhear Jesus’ intimate prayer to his Father, whom he addresses as Lord of heaven and earth. The Father’s majesty extends over the whole universe and appears far beyond human reach. In his prayer, Jesus doesn’t thank his Father for his majesty. Instead he thanks him for revealing these things not to the learned and clever but to mere children. The Father has come down to our human level and even
further to the level of children. What are these things that he reveals to us? If we look to the preceding context, we observe that it refers to the deeds of power in Chorazin and Bethsaida to which the cities do not respond, unlike the other Galilean towns. These deeds of power are Jesus’ healings, exorcisms, and proclamations, which manifest God’s saving presence. God makes known in Jesus his saving presence to all humanity whose calling is to become his children and enjoy the fullness of life.
God goes further to reach humanity, for his Son, Jesus, gentle and humble in heart, assumes a yoke of burden. The Son of the Most High lowers himself not only to our human level, but to the level of the lowest grade of slave, whose status is equated with a pack animal. The Son will ultimately go further and carry the yoke of his crossbeam to Golgotha, where he will then be crucified and die for us. He carries our yoke imposed because of sin that through his death and resurrection we might have life.
Our lives are marked by sin which weighs us down and its effects stick to us like muck. The burdens of sin become heavy and make us weary. The yoke of maintaining the illusions of power, position, and prestige over others comes at a great cost. This is not Jesus’ yoke. Jesus points the way to free ourselves. By becoming gentle and humble in heart, towards ourselves, others, and God, we can fit under Jesus’ yoke. Since Jesus carries this yoke, it becomes easy for us and our burdens light. Let us learn to walk humbly with our Lord.