Reflections

July 23, 2024  Today's Reading: Ephesians 2:11-22 Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 6:19-7:17 ; Acts 19:23-21:14 ; Acts 19:1-22 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together,...

July 22, 2024  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 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her. (John 20:18) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Mary Magdalene gets an unfair rap if you ask me. Scripture tells us that Jesus had driven seven demons out of her (Luke 8:2)—...

July 21, 2024  Today's Reading: Mark 6:30-44 Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 4:1-22 ; Acts 17:1-34 ; Acts 16:23-40 When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things. (Mark 6:34) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Sometimes, I read a passage of Scripture, and it’s so familiar to me that I struggle t...

July 20, 2024  Today's Reading: Introit for Pentecost 9 - Ps. 147:7-11; antiphon: Ps. 145:16 Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 3:1-21 ; Acts 16:1-22 You open your hand; You satisfy the desire of every living thing. (Psalm 145:16) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The antiphon for tomorrow’s Introit should be familiar to us: “You open Your hand; You satisfy the desire of every living thing.” In the Small Cate...

July 19, 2024  Today's Reading: 1 Samuel 2:18-36 Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 2:18-36 ; Acts 15:22-41 And I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who shall do according to what is in my heart and in my mind. And I will build him a sure house, and he shall go in and out before my anointed forever. (1 Samuel 2:35) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. This past school year, I taught Old Testament class...

July 18, 2024  Today's Reading: Catechism – What sins should we confess? Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 1:21-2:17 ; Galatians 6:1-18 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” (John 20:23) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The conscience. It’s our concept of right and wrong. It’s the referee that tells you whether a thought, word, or deed...

July 17, 2024 Today's Reading: Galatians 5:1-26 Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 1:1-20 ; Galatians 5:1-26 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Well? What’s next? That was the question in the churches of Galatia when Paul continued on hi...

July 16, 2024 Today's Reading: Ephesians 1:3-14 Daily Lectionary: Judges 16:4-30 ; Judges 17:1-21:25 ; Galatians 4:12-31 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him… (Ephesians 1:3-4) In the Nam...

July 15, 2024  Today's Reading: Amos 7:7-15 Daily Lectionary: Judges 15:1-16:3 ; Galatians 3:23-4:11 Then Amos answered and said to Amaziah, “I was no prophet, nor a prophet’s son, but I was a herdsman and a dresser of sycamore figs. But the LORD took me from following the flock, and the LORD said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’ (Amos 7:14-15) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. I don’t envy...

July 14, 2024  Today's Reading: Mark 6:14-29 Daily Lectionary: Judges 14:1-20 ; Galatians 3:1-22 But when Herod heard of it, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.” (Mark 6:16) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. While John the Baptist was the first figure to appear on the scene in St. Mark’s gospel (Mark 1:4), his ministry and witness were abruptly halted when Herod had him arrested. We woul...

July 13, 2024  Today's Reading: Introit for Pentecost 8 - Psalm 143:1-2, 8a; antiphon: Psalm 143:11 Daily Lectionary: Judges 13:1-25 ; Ruth 1:1-4:22 ; Galatians 2:1-21 Hear my prayer, O Lord; give ear to my pleas for mercy! In your faithfulness answer me, in your righteousness! (Psalm 143:1) In the Name + of Jesus, Amen. Someone once said, “We don’t pray so that God can hear us; we pray so that we...

July 12, 2024  Today's Reading: Galatians 1:1-24 Daily Lectionary: Judges 7:1-23 ; Judges 7:24-12:15 ; Galatians 1:1-24 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. (Galatians 1:6-7) In the Name + of Jesus....

July 11, 2024  Today's Reading: Catechism – What is Confession? Daily Lectionary: Judges 6:25-40 ; Acts 15:6-21 What is Confession? Confession has two parts. First that we confess our sins, and second, that we receive absolution, that is, forgiveness, from the pastor as from God Himself, not doubting, but firmly believing that by it our sins are forgiven before God in heaven. In the Name + of Jesu...

July 10, 2024 Today’s Reading: Judges 6:1-24 Daily Lectionary: Judges 6:1-24 ; Acts 14:19-15:5 And he said to him, “Please, Lord, how can I save Israel? Behold, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house.” And the LORD said to him, “But I will be with you, and you shall strike the Midianites as one man.” (Judges 6:15-16) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Have you ever...

July 9, 2024 Today's Reading: 2 Corinthians 12:1-10 Daily Lectionary: Judges 4:1-24 ; Judges 5:1-31 ; Acts 14:1-18 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (2 Corinthians 12:9) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. You must accept the truth that y...

July 8, 2024  Today's Reading: Ezekiel 2:1-5 Daily Lectionary: Judges 3:7-31 ; Acts 13:42-52 And he said to me, “Son of man, I send you to the people of Israel, to nations of rebels, who have rebelled against me. They and their fathers have transgressed against me to this very day. (Ezekiel 2:3) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. We often consider Biblical figures like Ezekiel as “powerhouse” models of...

July 7, 2024  Today's Reading: Mark 6:1-13 Daily Lectionary: Judges 2:6-23 ; Acts 13:13-41 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. (Mark 6:3) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Being offended is a common occurrence these days. Talk about your favorite music, politician, sports tea...

July 6, 2024  Today's Reading: Introit for Pentecost 7 - Psalm 132:13-16; antiphon: Psalm 34:8 Daily Lectionary: Joshua 24:1-31 ; Judges 1:1-36 ; Acts 13:1-12 For the Lord has chosen Zion; he has desired it for his dwelling place: This is my resting place forever; here I will dwell, for I have desired it. I will abundantly bless her provisions; I will satisfy her poor with bread. (Psalm 132:13-15)...

July 5, 2024  Today's Reading: Joshua 23:1-16 Daily Lectionary: Joshua 23:1-16 ; Acts 12:1-25 but you shall cling to the LORD your God just as you have done to this day. For the LORD has driven out before you great and strong nations. And as for you, no man has been able to stand before you to this day. (Joshua 23:8-9) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. My father died 20 years ago, and I have a lot of...

July 4, 2024 Today's Reading: Catechism: The Sacrament of Holy Baptism – Fourth Daily Lectionary: Joshua 10:1-25 ; Joshua 10:28-22:34 ; Acts 11:19-30 What does such baptizing with water indicate? It indicates that the Old Adam in us should by daily contrition and repentance be drowned and die with all sins and evil desires, and that a new man should daily emerge and arise to live before God in rig...

July 3, 2024  Today's Reading: Joshua 8:1-28 Daily Lectionary: Joshua 8:1-28 ; Acts 11:1-18 And the LORD said to Joshua, “Do not fear and do not be dismayed. Take all the fighting men with you, and arise, go up to Ai. See, I have given into your hand the king of Ai, and his people, his city, and his land. (Joshua 8:1) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. There are those Christians today who have no use f...

July 2, 2024 Today's Reading: 2 Corinthians 8:1-9, 13-15 Daily Lectionary: Joshua 7:1-26 ; Acts 10:34-48 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. (2 Corinthians 8:9) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Everyone today desires equality, whether it is among races, creeds, sexual identities, or e...

July 1, 2024  Today's Reading: Lamentations 3:22-33   Daily Lectionary: Joshua 6:6-27 ; Acts 10:18-33 The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end;they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22-23) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Every day, we go through the motions of our daily routine– wake up, jog, make coffee, have breakfast, wash, rin...

June 30, 2024  Today's Reading: Mark 5:21-43 Daily Lectionary: Joshua 5:1-6:5 ; Acts 10:1-17 And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. (Mark 5:25-26) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. When you think of the Christian faith, blood is probably not the fi...

June 29, 2024  Today's Reading: Matthew 16:13-19 Daily Lectionary: Joshua 4:1-24 ; Acts 9:23-43 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. (Matt. 16:17) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Peter’s confession, Paul’s conversion and witness. Both serving as apostles proclaiming the Gospel to Jews and Gentiles...