The Blessing of Human Labor!

Wednesday, December 10, 2025

Is 40: 25-31; Mt 11:28-30

Today’s Gospel highlights that we may experience work as a blessing with Jesus beside us.  

Jesus’ invitation is, ‘Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened…Take my yoke upon you…For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.’

If we labor and are already burdened, how can the yoke of Jesus become sweet and his burden light? Is it not ironic? 

If we closely observe Jesus’ statement, we discover that we ‘labor and are burdened’ when we are away from his presence. Instead, when we walk into his presence, accepting his invitation, the labor ceases to be painful and burdensome.

In my view, ‘Theology of Human Work’ can enlighten us on the truth of Jesus’ statement. 

Theology of human work understands that even before the Fall, when Adam and Eve dwelt in the Garden of Eden, work already existed because God’s instruction to the first parents was to ‘till the earth and keep it’ (Gen 2:15). Here, what made their work delightful was God’s presence. As they worked in God’s presence, their hearts were in harmony with God and His creation. Work flowed from love and not from fear, compulsion, or survival. Thus, before the Fall, work was a creative expression that was blessed by God. 

Nevertheless, what changed work into a toil, burden, or drudgery was the separation of Adam and Eve from God’s presence. When they were driven out of the Garden of Eden and lived away from God’s presence, work became exhausting and futile because the ground resisted them. It refused to yield. Thorns and thistles grew. It is when they remembered what God said, ‘By the sweat of your brow you shall eat your bread’ (Gen 3:19). Work becomes unbearable away from God’s presence.

If we approach Jesus’ statement armed with this understanding, we find that it makes a lot of sense. Jesus’ yoke is easy, not because he abolishes work but redeems it. His burden is light, not because he eliminates it altogether but lifts it with us. 

If we dare to take up our daily cross and follow Jesus, we will not find it toilsome because he carries it with us. With Jesus beside us, even the cross is not a punishing experience. 

Let us pray that we may find ourselves with Jesus at all times to enjoy the blessing of our labor.

Fr. Dhinakaran Savariyar