WHAT YOU NEED IS AN EXCHANGE

Matthew 11:28-30 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

We reflect on a rather short Gospel text, so here are the implications:

First, one has to realize that they are laboring and carrying a heavy load. Any effort that is disproportionate to the results you receive, and any extra weight that impedes your movement significantly is heavy. After coming to this realization, then the decision becomes yours to respond to Jesus’ invitation to come.

Secondly, what happens is not a complete offloading, but an exchange. That is because wherever there is a void, something else strives to fill the space. So should a heavy load be taken off without replacement, there is room to reaccummulate. That is why Jesus provides an easy yoke and a light burden. The goal of both is to occupy available space without adding excess resistance to movement.

The focus beloved, is neither on the labour nor the load, but the availability of effort and space. What we truly need therefore, is not simply offloading and doing nothing (our definition of rest), but rather an exchange that occupies both space and effort without impeding movement.

#sly