Cooperating with Jesus

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30)

Sin is a heavy burden that rests upon our shoulders, more weighty than anything else we may carry. When we persist in sinning, despite all our efforts to the contrary, we become weary. Jesus speaks to those among us struggling with sin, telling us to go to him for the rest that we seek, rather than distance ourselves like many of us do.

He then suggests something rather strange. He asks us to take on a new burden - his yoke! However, even though this may seem as adding to the burdens on our backs, as any look at two cows yoked together might suggest, it actually succeeds in unburdening us! When we are enjoined to Jesus three things result. One, he takes on our loads, sin in this case, which he forgives, instantly lifting off guilt and shame and other assorted baggage. Two, we take on his burdens, but these are light because they are powered by the Holy Spirit. We will speak about this another time. And three, and most importantly, when we are yoked to him, we cannot move away from him, thus remaining secure, protected, guided, and blessed.

The trick is not to shed off the yoke. How do we do this? By consciously making him part of our lives from the moment we wake up to the time we go to bed. Wish him when you arise in the morning. Say a little prayer thanking him for a good nights rest and asking him for his guidance and blessings. Thank him for letting you see the light of a new day, and then continue to thank him for all the blessings he bestows upon you during the entire day, beginning with your morning ablutions (even the water you use to wash your face is a blessing often taken for granted) to the last meal you have in the night. Consciously think about him at regular intervals during the day. It may be a good idea to set an alarm to ring on the hour to remind you to do this until it becomes a habit. Play spiritual music, watch spiritual movies, read spiritual books. Call out his name from time to time. Find your own ways of staying connected with him so that you can pray unceasingly, as Paul advised (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

St. Ignatius of Loyola developed a five step technique of prayerful examination that can also be a useful aid in ensuring we are permanently yoked to Jesus. We will look at this techique, called the Daily Examen, tomorrow.