The Yoke That Does Not Have to Be Carried Alone
Netzach of Geburah Day 11 of 50 · Victory within Strength
Steady Resolve
“After these things, Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself this way. Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together.”1
They spoke of many things, and as the stars turned and the others drifted into sleep, Nathanael, son of Tolmai, remained awake with the Living Christ.
This is the eleventh discourse of the Living Christ:
Nathanael said, “What did you mean when you asked us to take up your yoke?”
The Living Christ said, “I said, ‘Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily 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.’2
“That is to say, harness yourself to the work I do, because it leads to a gentleness and humility, which gives your soul and body rest. You can strive in this world alone, but together, we have enough to take care of everyone. Once you have a steady resolve to love God, love your neighbor, and love one another, you cannot help but take care of each other.
“My yoke is a strength that stands firm without striking out. It persists without becoming a fist. It clears the eyes so they may see clearly, rather than fixing them upon a single grievance.
“My yoke is patient, not forceful. It is a hand that heals, not a hand that harms. This demands less from you if we are all pulling the plow together than if any of us tried to pull it alone. Together we keep the line straight. Our strength is reliable because it does not have to react to the whims of a selfish and cruel master.
“Those who take up my yoke and follow me are like a sentinel who keeps watch through the long night. Together, some can sleep while others keep watch, because we all take our turn being vigilant. Sharing the work relieves the burden.”
Nathanael asked, “But Lord, if we are all keeping vigilance, how do we keep from hardening into an inflexible stubbornness? How do we keep from believing that the way something has always been done is the way something has to be done? How do we prevent the ‘always’ from becoming a prison?”
The Living Christ said, “This happens when resolve turns into self-importance. To do that, a person has to release my yoke. My way is to refuse to surrender the needs of the most vulnerable for any reason whatsoever. Love has no room for self-importance, which is why it is at the heart of the Law. Sustain your strength in love, because God is love.”
Nathanael asked, “What if our strength cannot endure, and our discernment is unsustainable?”
The Living Christ said, “If you push so hard you cannot sustain the work, your burden is not shared with the community. To love one another means we share our burdens and the work so no one has too much to do. Others lie to themselves, pretending that fatigue is a sign of mercy. It is not. As I told you before: when strength forgets its source, it loses its credibility.”
Nathanael asked, “How can I have this resolve you are talking about?”
The Living Christ said, “Balance your resolve with humility. Strength is restored when it remains firm without justifying its own actions. Together, we carry the weight of the work so no one has to carry it alone or for too long without rest.
“Serve truth rather than your own ego, and your soul will be healed. When justice endures and does not collapse under pressure or corrupt itself through power, the world is repaired. Justice cannot stand without love, nor can it breathe without mercy and the fair sharing of the harvest. True justice persists in faithfulness; it does not seek to bind the world in a grip of control. It abides in faithfulness, seeking not to rule, but to restore.”
John 21:1-2
Matthew 11:28-30