Dear Folks,

Jesus teaches that “My yolk is easy and my burden is light (Matthew 11:30).” We think of the terrible burden that he carried on the cross and called us to do the same (Matthew 10:38). We think of the Christians through the centuries who did incredible things in following Jesus wonder how this matches.

I suggest we look at our second reading as it makes reference to the flesh and the spirit and calls us to live according to the spirit. To get this critical Biblical concept down it would be good to read Romans 8:1-13 and Galatians 5:13 through 6:10. We see that “according to the flesh” is a bad thing and “according to the spirit” is a good thing. This does not, of course mean our bodies are evil. God made our bodies and called them good (Genesis 1 and 2), and that “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14). St. Paul is talking about a way of thinking.

As he told the Colossians, “If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christis is seated at the right hand of God. Think of what is above, not of what is on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ your life appears, then you too will appear with him in glory. Put to death, then the parts of you that are earthly: immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and the greed that is idolatry (Colossians 3:1-5).”

“I say, then: live by the spirit and you will certainly not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh. For the flesh has desires against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; these are opposed to each other; so that you may not do what you want. But if you are guided by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are obvious: immorality, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, rivalry jealousy, outbursts of fury, acts of selfishness, dissensions, factions, occasions of envy, drinking bouts, orgies, and the like. I warn you as I warned you before, that those who do such things will net inherit the kingdom of God. In contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law (Galatians 6:16-23).”

If we stay in our sinful state and rules of morality get imposed upon us, they will be painful and incredibly difficult. The more we are transformed by our union with Christ, the more that living according to the Spirit follows from that relationship. We remember that Jesus calls us, not just to compliance with rules, but to be transformed by Him (“Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good, and pleasing and perfect (Romans 12:2).” The Christian Journey is gradually being transformed according by His presence in our lives. At any point we are imperfectly transformed but called to greater perfection. “So be perfect, just as you heavenly Father is perfect (Matthew 5:48).”

It is then we can begin to understand what Jesus meant by His teaching that “My yolk is easy and my burden is light (Matthew 11:30).”

Blessings,

Fr. Jim