Reflections

July 30, 2025 Today's Reading: 1 Samuel 15:10-35 Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 15:10-35 ; Acts 24:24-25:12 “Saul said to Samuel, ‘I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice. Now therefore, please pardon my sin and return with me that I may bow before the Lord.’” (1 Samuel 15:24-25) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen....

July 29, 2025  Today's Reading: Colossians 2:6-15 (16-19) Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 14:47-15:9 ; Acts 24:1-23 “And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.” (Colossians...

July 28, 2025  Today's Reading: Genesis 18:(17-19) 20-33 Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 13:1-18 ; Acts 23:12-35 “Then Abraham drew near and said, ‘Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?” (Genesis 18:23) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.  Watch any police TV show or courtroom drama, and sooner or later you’ll hear the phrase, “If you do not have, or cannot afford a lawyer, the court will...

July 27, 2025  Today's Reading: Luke 11:1-13 Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 12:1-25 ; Acts 22:30-23:11 “Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.’” (Luke 11:1) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.  When you learned your ABCs, someone took a crayon and showed you how to draw the letters. When you lea...

July 26, 2025 Today's Reading: Introit for Pentecost 7 - Psalm 119:145-149; antiphon: Psalm 50:15 Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 10:1-27 ; Acts 22:17-29 “Hear my voice according to your steadfast love; O LORD, according to your justice give me life.” (Psalm 119:149)   In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. What is God’s justice, and how does one gain life from it? The Psalmist would seem to know the answer, an...

July 25, 2025 Today's Reading: Mark 10:35-45 Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 9:1-27 ; Acts 21:37-22:16 “For whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:43b-45)   In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. When James and his brother Joh...

July 24, 2025 Today's Reading: Catechism: The Sacrament of Holy Baptism - Fourth Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 8:1-22 ; Acts 21:15-36 “We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” (Romans 6:4)   In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.  It's like a murder mystery! What killed the...

July 23, 2025 Today's Reading: Colossians 1:21-29 Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 6:19-7:17 ; Acts 19:23-21:14 ; Acts 19:1-22 “And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting fro...

July 22, 2025  Today's Reading: John 20:1-2, 10-18 Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 5:1-6:3, 10-16 ; Acts 18:1-11, 23-28 “Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?’ Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, ‘Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Mary.’ She turned and said to him in Aramaic,...

July 21, 2025 Today's Reading: Genesis 18:1-10a (10b-14) Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 4:1-22 ; Acts 17:1-34 ; Acts 16:23-40 “[Abraham] ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth and said, ‘O Lord, if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant.’ … The LORD said to Abraham, ‘Why did Sarah laugh and say, “Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?” Is any...

July 20, 2025  Today's Reading: Luke 10:38-42 Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 3:1-21 ; Acts 16:1-22 “. . . Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.’ But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has ch...

July 19, 2025  Today's Reading: Introit for Pentecost 6 - Psalm 119:57-60, 64; antiphon: Psalm 119:105 Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 2:18-36 ; Acts 15:22-41   “I entreat your favor with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise.” (Psalm 119:58) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.  Have you ever been given a weird gift? Like a dead bird by your dog? A rock from a younger sibling? A feather f...

July 18, 2025 Today's Reading: Galatians 6:1-18 Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 1:21-2:17 ; Galatians 6:1-18 “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. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:1-2) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.  This is a toug...

July 17, 2025 Today's Reading: Catechism: The Sacrament of Holy Baptism - Third Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 1:1-20 ; Galatians 5:1-26 How can water do such great things? Certainly not just water, but the word of God in and with the water does these things, along with the faith which trusts this word of God in the water. (The Sacrament of Holy Baptism - Third) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.  Have you...

July 16, 2025 Today's Reading: Galatians 4:12-31 Daily Lectionary: Judges 16:4-30 ; Judges 17:1-21:25 ; Galatians 4:12-31 “Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth?” (Galatians 4:16) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.  Good news is fun to share. Compliments are fun to give. People tend to enjoy having you around when you say something nice or positive. And yet, it seems that when times of...

July 15, 2025 Today's Reading: Colossians 1:1-14 Daily Lectionary: Judges 15:1-16:3 ; Galatians 3:23-4:11 “He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (Colossians 1:13-14) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.  “The domain of darkness.” What a chilling description. To be where there is no light....

July 14, 2025  Today's Reading: Leviticus (18:1-5) 19:9-18 Daily Lectionary: Judges 14:1-20 ; Galatians 3:1-22 “You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the LORD your God.” (Leviticus 19:10b) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.  As you read these verses in Leviticus, perhaps you (like me) nod your head along with God’s commands: “Yes - that is absolutely the right thing to do! Leave...

July 13, 2025 Today's Reading: Luke 10:25-37 Daily Lectionary: Judges 13:1-25 ; Ruth 1:1-4:22 ; Galatians 2:1-21 “And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test saying, ‘Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?’” (Luke 10:25) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.  Do you see it? Do you see how the lawyer already misstepped?  I suppose we could start with how he *dares* to question Jesus, or...

July 12, 2025  Today's Reading: Introit for Pentecost 5 - Psalm 136:23-26; antiphon: Psalm 136:1 Daily Lectionary: Judges 7:1-23 ; Judges 7:24-12:15 ; Galatians 1:1-24 “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever.” ( Psalm 136:1) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.  Thanksgiving has become “turkey day” in the United States (or tofurkey day if you are vegetarian or veg...

July 11, 2025 Today's Reading: Acts 15:6-21 Daily Lectionary: Judges 6:25-40 ; Acts 15:6-21 “We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.” ( Acts 15:11) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.  When I was a child I remember watching television with commercials! (Yes I am old). I seem to remember a number of commercials advertising different toys that all come in...

July 10, 2025 Today's Reading: Catechism: The Sacrament of Holy Baptism - Second Daily Lectionary: Judges 6:1-24 ; Acts 14:19-15:5 “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” (Mark 16:16)   Second – What benefits does baptism give? It works forgiveness of sins, rescues from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe thi...

July 9, 2025 Today's Reading: Acts 14:1-18 Daily Lectionary: Judges 4:1-24 ; Judges 5:1-31 ; Acts 14:1-18 “In Lystra there sat a man who was lame. He had been that way from birth and had never walked. He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed and called out, ‘Stand up on your feet!’ At that, the man jumped up and began to walk. When the...

July 8, 2025 Today's Reading: Galatians 6:1-10, 14-18 Daily Lectionary: Judges 3:7-31 ; Acts 13:42-52 “Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.  I can't focus. I'm distracted. I can't do what I want to do. I'm just trying to do my homework. I'm just trying to do my chores. No matter how much I try to c...

July 7, 2025 Today's Reading: Isaiah 66:10-14 Daily Lectionary: Judges 2:6-23 ; Acts 13:13-41 “As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.” (Isaiah 66:13) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.  You might be at an age where you do not feel like you need “comfort” from your mom or dad. If you get hurt (it is no longer a boo-boo or an owie), you can simply con...

July 6, 2025  Today's Reading: Luke 10:1-20 Daily Lectionary: Joshua 24:1-31 ; Judges 1:1-36 ; Acts 13:1-12 “...rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” ( Luke 10:20b) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.  Jesus sent the 72. He called them. He sent them out. There was, after all, work to be done, and lots of it. So Jesus, the Son of God, the Savior of the world, called 72 ordinary people and equip...