May 24, 2025
Today’s Reading: Introit for Easter 6 – Psalm 55:4, 16-18; antiphon: Psalm 55:22
Daily Lectionary: Leviticus 26:21-33, 39-44; Numbers 1:1-2:34; Luke 14:1-24
“Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.” (Psalm 55:22)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
In the days of yore, before all farming was done by machines, the farmers used to attach their tools to cows or oxen to do the hard work of plowing their fields and getting them ready for planting. If you’ve ever helped to plant a garden, you likely know why. Getting the ground ready for seeds is not easy work. You have to get the rocks out. You have to smooth the ground to be relatively flat. You have to dig the holes for the seeds. You have to cover the seeds back over once they’re sown so that they are protected from the scorching of the sun and the animals who would eat them for food. It’s back-breaking labor. It’s burdensome. You can see why these farmers passed the burden to their animals. It made things a lot easier.
You likely know burdens in your own life. You perhaps know that burden of manual labor. You perhaps know the burden of unending homework, responsibilities, obligations, and more. Additionally, you likely know the burden of Your sinful conscience. You remember that thought you had that was contrary to God’s will. You remember the slander you spoke against someone nearby you. You remember the harm you did to those whom you should have helped. All of this is burdensome, let alone the burdens we know of the sicknesses and sorrows from living in this broken and sin-fallen world.
God has asked you to let Him bear this burden for you. “Cast your burdens on me,” He says. Jesus tells you that you are to come to Him, heavy laden, and He will give you rest. He takes the yoke of Your troubles, and He promises that He makes them easier. This is true most of all of that burdened conscience. He assures you that He has yoked that burden to His cross and buried it in His tomb. This means that as He has raised you as His own in Baptism, you no longer bear it all. It’s gone as far as the East is from the West. You are now righteous in Him. So, as Your burden is cast upon Him, as You are righteous in Christ, He will not let you fall.
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
Blessed God, You are our strength and care in every circumstance. As we are burdened with the hardships of this life and our own sin, bless us to cast those burdens upon You that we would be confirmed as Your people forever.
– Rev. Matthew Zickler, pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Western Springs, IL.
Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.
Andrew R. Jones identifies ten lies Satan uses in attempts to dismantle God’s people and His kingdom. Find encouragement in God’s Word of Truth and remember the final victory we have in our Savior, Jesus Christ.
