Yuri Gagarin was the first man in space. After he landed, Soviet propaganda put out the message that Gagarin said, “I looked and looked but I didn’t see God.” There are several problems with this statement. First, Gagarin was a devout member of the Russian Orthodox Church and never said those words. Second, the statement is based on the fallacy of some atheists that, to Christians, God is a being in time who simply happens to be bigger and higher than the rest of us.
In the first reading, Moses is confronted by God and told to go to Egypt to rescue his people. Moses wonders what he will tell them when they ask what God it is who sent him. He is given several answers. First, tell them that “I am” sent you. I am the one who is not a being but being itself. Second, tell them “the Lord” sent you. This name refers to an immediacy, a presence. Third, tell them that I am the God of their fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Finally, tell them that I am the God that is concerned about how you are being treated in Egypt and have decided to free you from your misery. That would certainly come from a god other than any of the gods in Egypt.
Although this passage is not as explicit as others, there is going to be a showdown in Egypt, the God of the Israelites versus the gods of the Egyptians. Have you ever watched a boxing match where there was no doubt who won because you watched it with your own eyes? That’s all the Israelites need to do – just watch and see what happens.
In the Gospel lesson, Jesus invites everyone who labors and is burdened to come to him, and he will give them rest. Rest – that is what so many of us need. So, when we come to Jesus for that rest, what does he ask us to do? To put on his yoke. What? A yoke is placed upon an animal so that, connected to another animal, the two can work together and pull a load. That doesn’t sound like an opportunity for rest. That sounds like hard work. Yet, Jesus says that it is under that yoke that we will find rest. How can that be? First, Jesus has already done the heavy lifting. He has done everything necessary to save us and grant us peace. It is not as if there is some huge mountain we have to climb to get to God. When we take on Jesus’ yoke we are yoked to Jesus. Thus, Jesus says that, wearing his yoke, we can learn from him. When we want to go the wrong way, Jesus pulls us in the right direction. That is why his yoke is easy. In essence, we are simply following him. His yoke is easy and his burden is light. Yoked to him, we learn meekness and humility of heart. Many people look at the Christian path and think, That looks too hard for me. It is, if you try to do it on your own. However, yoked to Jesus, the word our Lord uses is “easy.” Actually, Jesus’ words here come as somewhat of a shock. I am thinking that the hard part is keeping his yoke on. If we do that, we will be with him and find rest.
The world is in bondage and seeks rest. Jesus says, come to me and I will give it to you. Be yoked to me. My yoke is easy and my burden light.
George Butterfield
I served as the Legal Reference Librarian at the Creighton University Law School Library from August, 2007, until August of 2017. I also taught Legal Research to first year law students and Advanced Legal Research to second and third year law students. In August of 2017 I took the position of Director of Evangelization and Catechesis for the St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Edmond, Oklahoma, and served in that capacity until Covid hit and the church staff was cut in half. Recently I took a position with the St. Gerald Catholic Church in Omaha, Nebraska, and my wife and I moved back to the Omaha suburb of Papillion.
My wife, Deb, and I have been married since 1970. She grew up in Oklahoma City and I migrated south from southwestern Pennsylvania. God has blessed us with three children, four living grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. I spent the first thirty years of our marriage as a minister so our family moved a lot. We have lived in several states, including Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado, and California.
I enjoy walking, reading, listening to audio books, playing with my Pekingnese, Max, my Maltese-Schnauzer, Blaise, and seeing my grandkids grow up. I am a Catholic deacon, having been ordained by Archbishop George Lucas on May 5, 2012.
There is nothing to compare with reflecting on scripture. I feel privileged to participate in these daily reflections. Although we don’t know whether or not St. Francis ever said it, one idea associated with him is that we preach the gospel always and, when necessary, use words. May these reflections be gospel words, good news, of our gracious Lord Jesus Christ.
