September 13, 2026
Today's Reading: Matthew 6:24-34
Daily Lectionary: 2 Chronicles 32:1-22; Hosea 1:1-14:9; Colossians 1:1-23
“Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
For all the troubles we face in this fallen world, God provides tools of care to help us endure. But these tools for ‘care’ are not themselves the ‘Cure.’ The sole Cure for sin is Jesus. He reminds us, by His Word and Sacraments, that He has brought us to dwell in His kingdom. He strengthens us and protects us from all harm and danger.
Take, for example, a pesky epidemic that troubled people during Jesus’ earthly ministry: anxiety. It continues to affect almost everyone at some point. In the most severe cases, anxiety manifests as a chronic mental illness. In such cases, God provides tools for care, including trusted pastors, trained therapists and psychologists, and even medicine. Yet ultimately, these tools for care are not the Cure. Anxiety is a product of the Fall into sin. The only Cure is Jesus.
Consider how anxiety orders society today. Well-intentioned parents are anxious about the physical safety and worldly success of their children. So, children are often placed into ‘structured and safe’ bubbles of activity, such as travel sports leagues, training programs, tutoring, and more. Unstructured time with friends today is less than a third of what it was a decade ago—from 140 minutes per day to barely 40. As one pastor put it: “Here is the church, here is the steeple, open the doors… and everyone is at soccer practice.”
On one hand, this means fewer injuries! From 2019 to 2020, Emergency Room visits for boys aged 0-17 dropped from 50 visits per 100 children to just 32. On the other hand, keeping children physically safe has not made anxiety go away. By 2015, one in five American teenage girls used social media more than 40 hours a week—that is equivalent to a full-time job! Self-harm among boys in the U.S. rose by 48% between 2010 and 2020. For girls aged 10-14, those numbers have increased by 600% in the past decade. Adults are affected, too: on average, mental illness shortens lifespans by 25 years.
Friends, if you are suffering, seek help and get the proper care. God provides care for the mind, just as He provides food and clothing for the body. But even more importantly, seek first the Kingdom of God. Let the Cure have a place in your life. He loves you, forgives you all your sins, and strengthens you to life everlasting!
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
Eternal God, You counsel us not to be anxious about earthly things. Keep alive in us a proper yearning for those heavenly treasures awaiting all who trust in Your mercy, that we may daily rejoice in Your salvation and serve You with constant devotion; through Jesus Christ Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (Collect for the Sunday after Trinity, Proper 3)
Rev. Donald Stein, pastor of Saint Andrew Lutheran Church in Rockton, IL.
