My yoke is easy
M Mons. Vincenzo Paglia
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Gospel (Mt 11,28-30) - At that time, Jesus said: «Come to me, all you who are weary and oppressed, and I will refresh you. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, who am meek and humble of heart, and you will find refreshment for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

The commentary on the Gospel by Monsignor Vincenzo Paglia

They are few verses, but full of that compassion that we heard at the beginning of Jesus' public mission. And we must be the voice of Jesus, his Church must shout to the crowds of the world Jesus' invitation to come under the mantle of him. Men, on the contrary, often push away those who are tired and oppressed, leaving them alone, they are afraid of being involved, they immediately think of their difficulties and they themselves feel like victims. With this invitation Jesus also establishes a right to refreshment in fatigue, to have attention, support, help. We must be, with our love, that relief for the many who are oppressed by suffering, by unjust, unbearable living conditions. And the refreshment is none other than Jesus himself: resting on his chest and being nourished by his Word. Jesus, and only he, can add: "Take my yoke upon you." The yoke Jesus speaks about is the Gospel, demanding and at the same time sweet, just like him. The real yoke is binding yourself to him. We are not free when we are untied from everyone: we would end up being prisoners of the heaviest yoke, that of our own self. We are free only if we bind ourselves to the one who releases us from the narrow confines of our self. For this reason he adds: "Learn from me, who am meek and humble of heart." The meek and humble, in fact, make life easier for those close to them, unlike the arrogant, the irascible, the proud, the aggressive, who live badly and do harm. Learn from me: that is, become my disciples.