Come to Me, All Who Labor and Yearn to Breathe Free

burden

If the above title sounds familiar, it is because it is a mash-up involving a quote from the Gospel according to Matthew and a quote from “The New Colossus,” the poem written by Emma Lazarus for the Statue of Liberty. This writer was convinced that somehow Ms. Lazarus was inspired by the words of Jesus recorded centuries ago. After a fair amount of research, however, no such line could be drawn between the two. The invitation to the “poor huddled masses” and “all who labor and are burdened” to find rest and breathe free do have commonality because they address the poorest among us.

The Burden of Human Existence

The processes of immigration and adoption also have commonality, both in the ancient world and in modern culture. The former, throughout the centuries, involved varying degrees of call and response that would culminate in citizenship. The latter, a legal process both then and now, involves a willingness between two parties to become joined as a family. In citizenship, as well as in family life, there are times of estrangement. The burden of bearing life alone and the pain that comes with isolation can lessen or erase any gains made in the context of family and community.

With apologies to Lady Liberty, let us turn now to sacred scripture for guidance:

“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

This well-known passage from Matthew’s Gospel speaks of the rest that awaits all baptized Christians, along with all who come to Jesus with contrite hearts and humble spirits. The word “yoke” might not resound readily in the minds and hearts of those in modern culture, but “burden” most assuredly does. Life across the centuries comes with the challenge of bearing the weight of gravity and mitigating against the decomposition of the matter that makes up the human body. Even under the best of circumstances, the burden of human existence is always present in one form or another daily.

Sharing the Load

In ancient Palestine, a reference to a yoke would be immediately understood as a board with two openings to join a pair of animals at the neck. The “side by side” forward movement would increase the power necessary to plow large sections of land. The image of being yoked, together with Jesus must have been very comforting to the initial hearers of this teaching. Facing life’s challenges alone can be overwhelming. With Jesus sharing the same yoke and walking at our side, life truly becomes easier and more manageable.

The “daily bread” for which we pray, is a request for God’s provision in our lives. Food and shelter comprise our basic needs, but there is much more to be considered. We trust that God will provide for all our needs day by day. We pray for the rest that Jesus offers us in body, mind, and spirit. We pray that Jesus will be with us as we face the burdens of the day.

Coping with life’s pressures and challenges has become increasingly harder during the worldwide pandemic of Covid-19. While government leaders grapple with ever-changing data and directives, individuals cope with social distancing, unemployment, isolation, and uncertainty. If ever there were a time to turn to God, it is now.

The Binary Choice

At first blush, it might seem that declining to accept the yoke and burden that Jesus offers would provide a kind of exemption from adversity and affliction. Nothing could be further from the truth; the bondage and slavery of sin are far more difficult. The binary choice is this: the harsh yoke of self-will, or the gentle yoke of God’s will.

In the Lord’s Prayer, we also pray for God’s will to be done on Earth as it is in Heaven. We pray for the day when we will be free to enjoy communion with God and the entire court of Heaven for all eternity. Until then, let us pray for the grace to accept God’s gracious invitation to be yoked with us as we journey toward Salvation.

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2 thoughts on “Come to Me, All Who Labor and Yearn to Breathe Free”

  1. This article, to be very frank, touched me much.
    A big grateful salute to the Author Deacon Greg Lambert!
    Jesus’ call “28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Mt. 11:28 kept on fascinating me from my early childhood (six years old) onwards. I used to ponder over it as I started growing up.
    The most intriguing part of the sentence for me was the three words: “come to Me”.
    How to “come?
    Who is this “Me (Jesus)”?
    The force of the urge in me was so great that I did start collecting points for a book in 1974. And 39 years later in 2013 I published a 500+ paged book (150,000 words) prefaced by His Beatitude Mar George Cardinal Alenchery. The title of the book is “The Sublime Moment of Recognising Jesus Christ”.
    Said so much, sorry and excuse me, it is not a broadcast but a truth in its absoluteness taken place in my life and most humbly presented.
    Now coming to the point, the call by Jesus “Follow Me”, is a miracle command applicable to every incident in a man’s life whether significant or not. And it is very easy and simple to accept but very, very difficult to accomplish.
    First and foremost, of all, to follow Jesus one must clearly understand who is Jesus Christ.
    I am sure 99 percent of the human beings at all times did not know exactly who is Jesus Christ! Jesus Himself was aware of it and that’s why once He asked His disciples:
    “13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesare′a Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do men say that the Son of man is?” Mt. 16: 13
    While HE was alive only two people, Mary band Joseph, knew exactly who This Person Is. And only St. John had an inkling about the true identity of Jesus.
    That’s why he recorded:
    “3 all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made.” Jn. 1:3
    In these words of St. John, lie the true identity of Jesus Christ, the Son of Mary the Immaculate.
    While referring to the words of St. John, the only factor that remains common to all things of the Universe is Energy (Spirit).
    Please consider the following statement from St. John:
    “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” Jn. 4;24
    “I and the Father are one.” …………. Jn. 10:30
    Spirit means energy. One can guess, then, who Jesus, the Second person of the Holy Trinity, is.
    Secondly, we must have strong faith to accept and accomplish the call of Jesus.
    Please look at the following Biblical sentences:
    “21 And Jesus answered them, “Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and never doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ it will be done. 22 And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” Mt. 21: 21-22

    “28 And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, bid me come to you on the water.” 29 He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus; 30 but when he saw the wind,[c] he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “O man of little faith, why did you doubt?” Mt. 14: 28-31
    In both the occasions under the above Biblical quotes we can make out how does the absence of faith affect the persons concerned.
    Thirdly, we must have confidence and courage to execute proactive actions which is available only with the help from God:
    44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.” Jn. 6:44.
    It is a plain truth that when we are in the right path we will keep on getting commands and instructions from God, then and there in our inner sense, regarding the manner and the way we must keep on moving forward. We must act then siding with Jesus like a child who walks hand in hand with his father, witnessing the Glory and Might of God the omnipotent and omnipresent ENTITY.
    THIS IS HOW WE CAN ACCEPT THE CALL FROM JESUS AND FOLLOW HIM

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