In today's Gospel, Jesus once again teaches us about finding peace in God. He uses the image of a yoke to comfort and encourage those who are weary and burdened. A yoke is a wooden beam placed on the necks of animals to help them plow fields or pull heavy loads. The purpose of the yoke is not to remove the load but to make carrying it easier. It distributes the weight and allows the animal to work with another.

One of the greatest enemies of peace is the burden we carry in our hearts. These burdens can be financial worries, health concerns, family problems, responsibilities, or uncertainties about the future. When we focus on all of them at once, anxiety can easily take over, and our peace begins to disappear. That is why Jesus says: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.” Notice that Jesus does not say, "Come to me, and I will remove all your problems." He does not promise a life without crosses. Rather, He promises His presence. He promises rest. He promises that we will not carry our burdens alone.

This Gospel speaks to me in a very personal way as I prepare for a new chapter of my ministry as the new Parish Priest of St. Francis Xavier Parish. Like every transition in life, it brings with it a mixture of emotions. There is gratitude, excitement, and hope. But there are also worries and anxieties. I find myself asking questions: Will the people accept me? Will I be able to serve them well? Can I live up to the expectations that come with this responsibility? Today’s Gospel reminds me that I do not enter this mission alone. The parish is not mine; it belongs to Christ. The mission is not mine; it is His. The people are not entrusted to my abilities alone but to God's loving care.

Perhaps this is the grace of every transition. We discover that what sustains us is not self-confidence but God-confidence. We realize that we cannot control everything, but we can trust the One who guides everything. The yoke of Christ does not mean the absence of responsibility. Rather, it means carrying our responsibilities together with Him. The burden remains, but it becomes lighter because He shares it with us.

As I begin this new ministry, I am reminded that every parish priest carries a yoke. The question is not whether we have burdens. The question is whether we allow Christ to carry them with us. So today I entrust this transition, this new mission, and all its uncertainties to the Lord. And perhaps each of us can do the same with whatever burden we are carrying. For the Lord does not promise that life will always be easy. But He does promise: “Come to me, and I will give you rest.” And sometimes that promise is enough.