Bear One Another’s Burdens

Bearing a burden leads to love

In today’s gospel reading, Paul writes, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ”. So, what does this mean? Isn’t the Law in the Old Testament? And, aren’t we free from the Law because of the New Testament? After all, Christ came to satisfy the Law for us since we couldn’t fulfill it ourselves. This verse seems contradictory to the Gospel!

While it’s true that Christ did indeed fulfill the Law, he also doesn’t want us to sit in the corner and wait for the end to come. He repeatedly tells us to “love one another, as I have loved you” and “love your neighbor as yourself.” What’s important to know here is that the word “love” means a lot of different things. Fortunately, we know exactly how Christ loved us. He loved us by forgiving us. 

Forgiveness is an incredible way to show love. As Christ was dying on the cross, abandoned by God and man, he prays “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.” He asks God to forgive them.

When his disciples asked him to teach them how to pray, one of the passages states, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us”.

Forgiveness is taking away another’s burden. We forgive their wrongs and take a weight from our neighbor; helping to free him for total reconciliation. By doing so, we show God’s love. And as we know, we love because He first loved us.

Thanks be to Christ!

Here is today’s sermon text from Galatians 6:

¹ Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. ² Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. ³ For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. ⁴ But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. ⁵ For each will have to bear his own load.

⁶ Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. ⁷ Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. ⁸ For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. ⁹ And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. ¹⁰ So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

¹⁴ But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. ¹⁵ For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. ¹⁶ And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.

¹⁷ From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.

¹⁸ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.

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