The Thursday after Ad te levavi Sunday, the First Sunday in Advent

11:25 At that time Jesus answered and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes. 26 Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. 27 All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. 28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

When David’s son Solomon died, Rehoboam became king. Rehoboam decided to follow the counsel of his young advisors who told him, “Thus you should speak to this people who have spoken to you, saying, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but you make it lighter on us’—thus you shall say to them: ‘My little finger shall be thicker than my father’s waist!’ ” (1 Kings 12:10). This, in part, is what led to the rebellion of the northern tribes and the schism between God’s people into two kingdoms of Israel and Judah.

Another Son of David, our Lord Jesus Christ, promises something different to the subjects of His kingdom: “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Truly, He frees us from the unbearable yoke of the Law by taking it upon Himself, and He has given us rest in the Gospel.

Unlike Rehoboam’s harsh laws which divided the Israelites, the gentleness of Christ’s Gospel unites all of His people into one Church. All men are invited to believe the Word and receive the Sacraments in true faith, by which they will obtain rest for their guilty consciences and knowledge that the Father is pleased with them for the sake of His beloved Son. Wherever this pure Gospel is preserved, there the unity of the Church is also preserved.

Collect: Stir up, we beseech Thee, Thy power, O Lord, and come, that by Thy protection we may be rescued from the threatening perils of our sins, and saved by Thy mighty deliverance; Who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.