I'm I an OXEN?

[mightymen]

Somehow I was provoked SC to do a study on PROVOKE, I have no idea how I came to this Scripture or what it has to do with being PROVOKED, But I truly I'm inspired to share it. SC I have no idea how this going to go, but so far I've been provoked by you and inspired by Jesus. Here goes.

Matthew Chapter 11

28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29 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.

You can google these word for yourself.

labour = work

heavy laden = weighted down with or as if with a heavy burden

This really gave me understanding, I pray it does the same for all of you. In the name of Jesus I speak to my Holy Father.

YOKE = a wooden crosspiece that is fastened over the necks of two animals and attached to the plow or cart that they are to pull.

Training Oxen - A Point Form Guide

•A. Base for Training

◦1. Respect gained through meeting your oxen's needs which are food, rest, water, shelter, social contact, and safety
◦2. Leadership quickly and firmly established

•B. Rules of Training
◦1. Train regularly
◦2. Maintain control of both your oxen and yourself
◦3. Be firm. Insist on obedience
◦4. Be patient and understanding
◦5. Be consistent in everything you ask

•C. Training Schedule
◦1. Teach animals to lead
◦2. Begin training with the yoke (or harness)
◦3. Teach Whoa (Stop), Giddup (Go), and Easy (Slow down)
◦4. Teach Gee (Turn right), Haw (Turn left), and Back (move in reverse)
◦5. Begin to pull loads
◦6. Teach Step In (step toward a pole/chain), and Step Out (step away from a pole/chain)
◦7. Teach Head Up (lift heads when in yoke), and Come Boss (Come in from pasture)
◦8. Use lead ropes as little as possible, until you can remove them altogether
◦9. Work on giving animals a variety of tasks in a variety of environments
◦10. End each work period when things are going well

Getting Started with Oxen

Here's a quote from Benedictine monk blog. (Sometimes GOD reveals things other times he shows us)

This altered dramatically my image of obedience. Now, I picture God the Father gently guiding his team, plowing and sowing the Spirit’s seed-ground of the Church so all in the world may reap the harvest of Life.

And working with me (us) under the yoke (or cross) is Christ Himself. He works with us all, encourages us, and promises us joy beyond all knowing for those who “Take My yoke on your shoulders and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble of heart. You shall find rest because My yoke is easy and My burden light.”

So then, what precisely is the yoke of Christ for us? It is the vehicle of grace on the path of life by which we progressively and obediently come to know, love, and serve God. It means being a disciple of Christ, being true to one’s vocation in life—which may be lived out in many different ways.

For me, it is the monastic way of life. So in a sense, the Benedictine habit and cuculla I put on every day symbolizes the yoke of Christ. To paraphrase the words of Archabbot Justin Du Vall at my Solemn Profession Mass, it symbolizes the right mind of obedience through which I return to Christ.

This yoke, this right mind of obedience under the law of freedom, this Love, is symbolized in different ways for those living out other vocations. It may be a wedding ring, or a clerical collar, or it may be something less visible but no less demanding—such as an illness, loneliness, or other difficult circumstances.

Whatever it is, it means working in tandem with Christ for the love of God. And this is something only a life of faith can bestow. As Jesus said many times, “Your faith has saved you.” This most be our hope, no matter how weary we might be, no matter how burdensome life may be. The yoke of Christ is easy, his burden light. In him we find rest.

http://yokeofchrist.blogspot.com/2011/02/what-is-yoke-of-christ.html

 

[Saintscruiser]

I'm not trying to get under your skin, MM! I do understand your post and I can sum it up with one word...."inspiring!" We have chosen different words that are under the same description, according to the dictionary. AND, I'm not an oxen.....I am a dumb sheep!

 

[mightymen]

SC you should find this very interesting.

See if you can find where it say's "became the number "1" we use today."

Once again you've inspired me to do a study on OXEN and SHEEP, I though it would be huge undertaken but to my surprise it took a whopping 4 min - WOW.

Anybody wants understanding, then click on this link --> The Ancient Hebrew Letters

Ancient Hebrew Research Center.

The original pictograph for this letter is a picture of an ox head -

representing strength and power from the work performed by the animal. This pictograph also represents a chief or other leader. When two oxen are yoked together for pulling a wagon or plow, one is the older and more experienced one who leads the other. Within the clan, tribe or family the chief or father is seen as the elder who is yoked to the others as the leader and teacher.
The Ancient Hebrew Letters

 

[Saintscruiser]

When a shepherd has a repeated rebellious sheep who keeps wandering off, he would break one of their legs, mend it with bandages, and carry the sheep around his neck at all times for the sheep to learn to depend on the shepherd for everything. AND, the sheep behaves after that as he/she is pretty much tied to the hip of a shepherd and can't live without the shepherd. Learning obedience can be a painful undertaking, but it's worth it in the end. I'm still learning......