Reflections

September 4, 2023 Today's Reading: Isaiah 51:1-6 Daily Lectionary: 2 Samuel 7:1-17 , 1 Corinthians 9:24-10:22 “My salvation will be forever” (Isaiah 51:6) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. “Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look at the earth beneath; for the heavens vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment, and they who dwell in it will die in like manner” (Isaiah 51:6). That soun...

September 3, 2023 Today's Reading: Matthew 16:13-20 Daily Lectionary: 2 Samuel 6:1-19 , 1 Corinthians 9:1-23 “But who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. “Who do you say that I am?” That’s the question, isn’t it? When Jesus asks the disciples about who people say that He is, the disciples respond with the various answers they have heard: John the Baptist, Elijah, J...

September 2, 2023 Today's Reading:   Daily Lectionary: 2 Samuel 5:1-25 , 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. (1 Corinthians 8:9) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Knowledge is a gift, until it becomes a weapon. Freedom is a gift, until it too is used as a weapon. You might be wondering, though, how can knowledge or freedom...

September 1, 2023 Today's Reading:   Daily Lectionary: 2 Samuel 1:1-27 , 1 Corinthians 7:25-40 So then he who marries his betrothed does well, and he who refrains from marriage will do even better. (1 Corinthians 7:38) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. We love when things are straight-forward and are logical. Opposites make sense. You are hot or cold. There is up or down. You turn left or right. We li...

August 31, 2023 Today's Reading: Romans 11:33-12:8 Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 31:1-13 , 1 Corinthians 7:1-24 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. (Romans 11:36) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. God’s Word often describes the Body of believers as, well, a body. It talks about each of us making up one united being with Christ as the Head. This is a beau...

August 30, 2023 Today's Reading: Luther's Small Catechism, Lords Prayer: Third Petition Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 28:3-25 , 1 Corinthians 6:1-20 And when He strengthens and keeps us firm in His Word and faith until we die. (How is God’s will done?)  In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Have you heard the phrase, ‘battle of wills?’ It means that two (or more) people have their own ideas or plans that are...

August 29, 2023 Today's Reading: Mark 6:14-29 Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 26:1-25 , 1 Corinthians 5:1-13 And the king was exceedingly sorry. (Mark 6:26a) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. John the Baptist’s executioner was exceedingly sorry that he would put John to death. But, punishments follow crimes committed, right? Why would King Herod feel sorry?   In fact, Herod’s interactions with John are con...

August 28, 2023 Today's Reading: Isaiah 51:1-6 Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 25:23-44 , 1 Corinthians 4:1-21 My salvation will be forever, and my righteousness will never be dismayed. Isaiah 51:6b In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Disaster. War. Murder. Slander. Cursed. Defiled. Ugly. These are heavy words. These are words we use to describe horrible things that happen to us or around us. These are words...

August 27, 2023 Today's Reading: Matthew 16:13-20 Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 25:1-22 , 1 Corinthians 3:1-23 ‘For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.’ Matthew 16:17b In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. In today’s reading, Jesus asks a question to His disciples: ‘Who do people say that the Son of Man is?’ The disciples respond with what they have heard: some say t...

August 26, 2023 Today's Reading: Introit to Pentecost 13: Psalm 28:1-2, 6-7 Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 24:1-22 , 1 Corinthians 1:26-2:16 Blessed be the LORD! For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy. (Psalm 28:6) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. It’s been a long week. It seems as though attending the Divine Service last Sunday was longer than 6 days ago. Maybe a particularly difficult day thi...

August 25, 2023 Today's Reading:   Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 20:24-42 , 1 Corinthians 1:1-25 ‘Not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.’ (1 Corinthians 1:17b) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Paul, inspired by God, wrote  to the Corinthians. Paul, also known as Saul, had been well educated and had been a high ranking Jew. He studied with great teachers and...

August 24, 2023 Today's Reading: Luke 22:24-30 Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 20:1-23 , Acts 28:16-31 But I am among you as the one who serves. (Luke 22:27b) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. St. Bartholomew was one of the Apostles. He traveled with Jesus,  listened to Jesus teach, and saw Jesus’ miracles. He heard again and again about who Jesus is and what Jesus was going to do. And yet, he didn’t get i...

August 23, 2023 Today's Reading: Luther’s Small Catechism, The Lord’s Prayer: Second Petition Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 19:1-24 , Acts 28:1-15 …so that by His grace we believe His holy Word and lead godly lives here in time and there in eternity. (Explanation of The Second Petition)  In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Did you see it? In this petition, we are praying that by HIS GRACE we believe His Wo...

August 22, 2023 Today's Reading: Romans 11:1-2a, 13-18, 28-32 Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 18:10-30 , Acts 27:27-44 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. Romans 11:29 In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. God’s Word is trustworthy and true. How do we know? Every promise He made, He kept. Every word He gave has come to fruition. In today’s reading, there is another reality: Gentiles get to be...

August 21, 2023 Today's Reading: Isaiah 56:1, 6-8 Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 17:48-18:9 , Acts 27:9-26 The Lord God, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, declares, I will gather yet others to him besides those already gathered. (Isaia 56:8) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Outsider. Foreigner. Doesn’t belong. Outcast. These words describe exclusion. These words create division: if you are out, that me...

August 20, 2023 Today's Reading:   Matthew 15:21-28 Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 17:20-47 ‘Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David.’  (Matthew 15:22b) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Mercy. Undeserved reprieve. Declared innocent in light of clear guilt.  In today’s reading, a mother is crying out for mercy to be shown to her daughter. She is desperate and coming to Jesus. She has the diagnosis: demon p...

August 19, 2023 Today's Reading: Introit to Pentecost 12: Psalm 28:1-2, 6-7 ; antiphon: Psalm 28:8 Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 17:1-19 , Acts 26:1-23 Psalm 28:7: “The LORD is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.” In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The tenses matter.  David is calling out to God for help. Present tense...

August 18, 2023 Today's Reading: 1 Samuel 16:1-23 Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 16:1-23 , Acts 25:13-27 1 Samuel 16:7: “But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.”” In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The Lord looks at things...

August 17, 2023 Today's Reading: Romans 10:5-17 Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 15:10-35 , Acts 24:24-25:12 Romans 10:17: “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. God sends His word to you so that you will believe it and be saved.  And we’re still scared that Christianity is going away.  Despite the boomers telling you how full the church was...

August 16, 2023 Today's Reading: Luther’s Small Catechism, The Lord’s Prayer: First Petition   Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 14:47-15:9 , Acts 24:1-23 Hallowed be Thy name In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. People misuse God’s name a lot.  Not just where toes get stubbed.  Where people lie about who God is. Where people teach falsely in His name. Where people use His name as a weapon for a cause they deem...

August 15, 2023 Today's Reading: Luke 1:39-55 Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 13:1-18 , Acts 23:13-35 Luke 1:48: “for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;” In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.  Blessed are you among women  To be called the mother of God by the small whispering word And so much worse by those without ears to hear. The...

August 14, 2023 Today's Reading: Job 38:4-18 Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 12:1-25 , Acts 22:30-23:11 Job 38:4: ““Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.” In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Where were you when God worked? To create. To redeem. The real question the Lord poses to Job is “Why would you think you need to be?” It’s a harsh question for a rea...

August 13, 2023 Today's Reading:   Matthew 14:22-33 Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 10:1-27, Acts 22:17-29 Matthew 14:24–25: “but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea.” In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. It’s easier to talk about the Jesus who walks on water than the Je...

August 12, 2023 Today's Reading: Introit to Pentecost 11: Psalm 34:4-8 ; antiphon: Psalm 34:1 Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 9:1-27 , Acts 21:37-22:16 Psalm 34:7: The angel of the LORD encamps around those who I fear him, and delivers them. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The angel of the Lord is, more than sometimes, the Son of God.  Angel means messenger.  Voice. Word.  The Word of the Lord made flesh...

August 11, 2023 Today's Reading: Acts 21:15-36 Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 8:1-22 , Acts 21:15-36 Acts 21:24: “take these men and purify yourself along with them and pay their expenses, so that they may shave their heads. Thus all will know that there is nothing in what they have been told about you, but that you yourself also live in observance of the law.” In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Paul seems...