Christ's 'yoke' is the law of love, Pope tells Sunday audience

July 04, 2011

“The yoke of Christ is the law of love,” Pope Benedict XVI told his Sunday Angelus audience on July 3.

In his appearance before the crowd in St. Peter’s Square, the Pope offered some thoughts on the day’s Gospel, and the words of Jesus:

Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Here Jesus offers comfort and rest to all those who long for it, the Pope said. “But He imposes a condition.” His “yoke” is his law, and those who follow that law will find that their burden is lighter.

Pope Benedict reflected on the many ways that people feel burdened today: “Exhausted multitudes in the poorest countries are tried by want; and even in richer nations there are many men and women who are dissatisfied, even sick with depression.” To rid ourselves of these burdens, he said, we must “adopt a reasonable mildness,” rather than pursue “aggressive” designs that exploit the poor and disturb the environment.

Toward the conclusion of his talk, Pope Benedict offered his best wishes to those who are planning or beginning summer vacations, saying “I pray that you will truly find refreshment for body and spirit and an opportunity to rest in the Lord.” The Pontiff himself will leave Rome for his annual summer stay at the apostolic palace in Castel Gandolfo later this week.

 

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Further information:

• Christ's Gaze Rests on the Oppressed Multitudes of Today (VIS)
• Pope Benedict XVI: Find "rest" in Christ (Vatican Radio)
• Pope criticises ‘violence’ in developed world (AFP)