Jesus says, "My yoke is easy;" the word "easy" comes from the Greek chrestos, meaning "well-fitting." In Jesus' day a carpenter would carefully craft a bespoke wooden yoke for each ox--it served as a harness for animals used in farming. Each individual yoke was made to fit comfortably. ~ From Lectio 365, September 24, 2025

I'd never thought of the yoke that Jesus talks about in Matthew 11:28-30 as being custom-made. I'd always had a more negative association with the word yoke, doubting the reality of "easy."  However, the concept of "bespoke" brought a different insight. I've  wished I could have "bespoke" clothing tailored for me. My legs and arms are short. Often, cuffs hang down to the middle of my hands. Pants pool in layers of material below my toes (although my granddaughter says that this pooling at the feet is now quite fasionable). 

Isn't it just like the Lord to make a custom yoke for us, especially as we face life's uncertainties, the battles of our age waging against light and darkness? 

We can be confident that these yokes are fashioned with our gifting, our needs and the longings of our hearts in mind. The Lord desires for us to be mighty in battle. We need to be yoked to His strength, widsom and joy for such a time as this. In the late afternoon, the day I read the Lectio 365 entry, I began to swoon from the fatigue of the day--the tasks, and the disheartening feelings and sadness from current events. I realized, though, that my house was filled with light filtering through the windows. I was so engaged with shadow patterns created on the walls and the shimmering warmth of an oil painting glinting in all that luminosity, that I began taking pictures. The day before, I'd found a song I liked entitled, "Golden Hour." When I looked up the lyrics on YouTube, the words reflected the beauty of young love. I realized I still feel that way about my husband.  The Lord strengthened me with the bespoke images, the light, and the love I feel for my husband. Jesus knows us, understand us, and says, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light." (From The Living Bible)

So may God

The Faithful Father

God the scarred Son

God the sculpting Spirit

Journey With You ~ From Lectio 365, September 21, 2025