May 29, 2025

Today's Reading: Luke 24:44-53

Daily Lectionary: Numbers 11:1-23, 31-35; Luke 17:1-19

“And he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven.” (Luke 24:50-51)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

Think about those hands. Hands that were knit together in the womb of St. Mary. Hands that pressed up against that womb as they grew. Hands that grasped His mother’s finger as she cradled Him in her arms. Hands that held St. Joseph’s fingers as He learned to walk. Hands that did chores around the house. 

Hands that reached out to touch the lepers, the blind, the deaf, and the mute. Hands that reached out to grab Peter as he sank into the water. Hands that stopped a funeral procession in its tracks, touching the coffin of a young man and then taking that young man and giving him back to His mother. Hands that blessed the little children.

Hands that overturned the tables in the Temple. Hands that dipped a towel in the water and washed the feet of His disciples that would run away, or, even worse, deny Him that night. Hands that broke bread and said, “Take and eat.” Hands that raised the cup and said, “Take and drink.”

Hands that were pierced with nails. Hands that went limp in death. Hands that were laid in a grave. Hands that were shown to the Disciples on Easter Evening and to Thomas the next week.

Now, as Jesus ascends into heaven, those nail-scarred hands are raised and lifted in blessing. Those hands were taken into heaven and seated at the Right Hand of the Father. Those hands, hands of the One who is True God and True Man, have a place in heaven.

Those same hands now come to you in blessing. They work through the hands of your pastor who baptized you, who forgives, who delivers the Body and Blood of Jesus to you each week, and who raises His hands in blessing and says, “The Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord makes His face shine upon you be gracious unto you, the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.”

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Crown Him the Lord of love. Behold His hands and side, Rich wounds, yet visible above, In beauty glorified. No angels in the sky Can fully bear that sight, But downward bend their wond’ring eyes At mysteries so bright. (LSB 525:3)

- Rev. Daniel Burhop, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, Reese, MI.

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.