19 July 2018
Thursday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Today’s admonition in scripture that we should accept and realize that the yoke of Christ is “light” perhaps makes a bit more sense with some analysis in the translation and context. Horses did not pull plows before the invention of the horse collar around the year 900 A.D. Land was furrowed by oxen bred especially for their broad shoulders that could distribute the weight of the plow. Yokes were made of wood and actually were hand carved to fit each animal since the farmer knew the better fitting the yoke, the better results would be gained from the animal. Yokes then were designed so that animals may achieve a specific task. Our task is moving towards God and, keeping in mind Ignatius’ admonition, we can identify the presence of a well-fitting yoke with the presence of consolation. For Ignatius, consolation occurs when there is a correct relationship between the goal of our lives and the correct use of creation. Our “yoke” is light, or perhaps better translated as, “well fitting” when we do make choices in line with our ultimate goal. This does not say that our lives will not be difficult, as most oxen would agree. However, even a dumb ox realizes that a bad fitting yoke makes life difficult.