June 20, 2026

Today's Reading: Introit for Trinity 3 - Psalm 25:1-2a, 5b, 15, 20; antiphon: Psalm 25:16, 18

Daily Lectionary: Proverbs 22:22-23:12; John 18:15-40

“Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. Consider my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins.” (Psalm 25:16, 18)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Loneliness hurts. Suffering hurts. Having troubles hurts. Knowing I’ve sinned hurts. Being sinned against hurts. There is a lot of hurt in this broken world. Life can often hurt.

It is such a gift, then, to realize that God gives us the psalms to pray, sing, and meditate upon. In today’s verses, we have the words we need to cry out to God. We get to admit that we are alone and bothered. We get to be honest about what is hurting us and causing us pain. We can share all that burdens us; we can call out when we feel troubled and are in need of forgiveness. We can say that we need help.

It is amazing to realize that just as God gives us these words to pray and use, He also promises to hear us when we talk to Him. In fact, He longs to hear our hurts and cares. He loves us and desires for us to bring all that we carry to Him. In fact, He would not have us carry our sins and our burdens at all. He gives them to His Son, our Savior Jesus. And Jesus willingly carries them all to the cross, where He pays for them with His life. He defeats all that is broken by defeating death. He pays the price for our sin and reconciles us to the Father. We died and rose with Jesus and are now mercied, loved, and forgiven. We pray with confidence and hope. We are not alone.

Every day, we live under the weight of sin. Luther’s Small Catechism teaches us that our Old Adam must DAILY be drowned and die; we continue to struggle with sin and sadness. And yet, the grace that we have from our loving and merciful Heavenly Father is new every morning. We remember our Baptism and cling to the promises that we have in Jesus. We have an attentive, loving, and compassionate God. He hears our prayers and fulfills His promises. We go to the Divine Service and our hope is renewed; we hear our sins forgiven, we hear of the promises and works of God, we eat Jesus’ Body and Blood. We are given good Gifts from our loving, Heavenly Father, who hears our prayers and promises to never leave us nor forsake us.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Sing praise to God, the highest good, The author of creation, The God of love who understood Our need for His salvation. With healing balm our souls He fills And ev’re faithful murmur stills: To God all praise and glory! (LSB 819:1)

Deac. Sarah Longmire, Curricula Curator for Higher Things and Director of Family Life at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Lee's Summit, MO.