Excerpt from Fr. Dave Danneker, St John Neumann Bulletin (July 6, 2014)…

In Palestine, ox yokes were custom-made of wood, cut and measured to fit a particular animal – the Greek word that we translate as “easy” in today’s Gospel more accurately means “fitting well.” God does not ask of us what we do not have or cannot do, yet to give what we can and do what we are able to do in a spirit of humility and gratitude. Whenever we help someone in need, such as our Social Action Committee, Food Bank, or Off The Streets, we take on the “yoke” and “burden” of Christ: a yoke that is “light” and “easy” in that it demands no more from us than what we are capable of doing and giving; its “burden” is the humility and selflessness to use what we have in the humble, generous spirit of Jesus the servant.