Reflections

February 26, 2024 Today's Reading: Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16   Daily Lectionary: Genesis 18:1-15 , Genesis 18:16-20:18 , Mark 6:14-34   No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham (Genesis 17:5) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Names are important. They give you identity. And many of you reading this have names that were picked specifically for you. Your parents may have agonized over p...

February 25, 2024  Today's Reading: Mark 8:27-38   Daily Lectionary: Genesis 16:1-9, 15-17:22; Mark 6:1-13 Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. (Mark 8:34) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. In 1989, the band Queen wrote a song that defined the world in which we live. The chorus goes as such, “I want it all, I want it now.” The message is clear, li...

February 24, 2024  Today's Reading: Matthew 11:25-30 Daily Lectionary: Genesis 15:1-21, Mark 5:21-43 All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. (Matthew 11:27) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Jesus chose His apostles, and it is to these He revealed Himself to. H...

February 23, 2024  Today's Reading:  Daily Lectionary: Genesis 13:1-18, Genesis 14:1-24 , Mark 5:1-20 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. (Mark 5:6) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Today’s reading is one that could be a horror movie. A demon possessed man, crying out, cast from society, dwelling in the place of death, the tombs. Chains cannot hold him, ch...

February 22, 2024  Today's Reading: 10 Commandments, 9th Commandment   Daily Lectionary: Genesis 11:27-12:20 , Mark 4:21-41 “You shall not covet your neighbor's house” (9th Commandment) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Your friend got the new iPhone. You wish you had that, your phone is slow. It has a cracked screen, and the charger won’t work unless the cord is wiggled just right. It’s frustrating....

February 21, 2024 Today's Reading: Mark 4:1-20 Daily Lectionary: Genesis 8:13-9:17 , Genesis 9:18-11:26 The sower sows the word. (Mark 4:14)  In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Have you ever felt like it was your job to convert someone? Whether it be a family member, a friend, or even a random stranger? It is easy to fall into. We feel responsible for saving others, as ones who have been redeemed by fa...

February 20, 2024  Today's Reading: James 1:12-18 Daily Lectionary: Genesis 7:11-8:12 , Mark 3:20-35 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. (James 1:12) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. It’s not a secret. Life is hard. From the toddler that doesn’t get to make any decisi...

February 19, 2024  Today's Reading: Genesis 22:1-18 Daily Lectionary: Genesis 6:1-7:5 , Mark 3:1-19 Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” (Genesis 22:8) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. They were on a mountain, a mountain where a sacrifice would be made. A knife lifted high above his head; Abraham was ready to strike. Isaac, laying there bound and helpl...

February 18, 2024  Today's Reading: Mark 1:9-15 Daily Lectionary: Genesis 4:1-26 , Mark 2:18-28 As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending like a dove. (Mark 1:10)   In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Beginnings and endings are always the best part of a story. The beginning brings with it optimism, excitement, something new, a reason for hope. The e...

February 17, 2024  Today's Reading: Introit for Lent 1 Daily Lectionary: Job 13:1-12 ; John 6:1-21 For he will command his angels concerning you  to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up,  lest you strike your foot against a stone..” Psalm 91:9-11 In The Name of Jesus. How strong do you feel against Satan? How good at turning back the temptations of the demons? Maybe we...

February 16, 2024  Today's Reading:  Daily Lectionary: Job 12:1-6, 12-25; John 5:30-47 For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me. John 5:36 In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Jesus gives us so much in those few words: “the works that the Father has given me.” What does it mean to be Son of the Father? For...

February 15, 2024  Today's Reading: Luther’s Small Catechism, 8th Commandment Daily Lectionary: Job 11:1-20 ; John 5:19-29 You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.  What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we do not tell lies about our neighbor, betray him, slander him, or hurt his reputation, but defend him, speak well of him, and explain everything in the kindest...

February 14, 2024  Today's Reading:  Daily Lectionary: Job 10:1-22 ; John 5:1-18 [Job said,] I loathe my very life;     therefore I will give free rein to my complaint     and speak out in the bitterness of my soul. I say to God: Do not declare me guilty,     but tell me what charges you have against me. Does it please you to oppress me? Job 10:1-3 In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Do you want to argu...

February 13, 2024   Today's Reading: 2 Corinthians 3:12-18 Daily Lectionary: Job 9:1-35 ; John 4:46-54 But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 2 Corinthians 3:17 In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Freedom is a nice word. As Americans we love it. Freedom from oppression, freedom to speak your mind without fea...

February 12, 2024  Today's Reading: 2 Kings 2:1-12 Daily Lectionary: Job 8:1-22; John 4:27-45 2 Kings 2:9: When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, "Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you.” And Elisha said, ‘Please let there be a double portion of your spirit on me.’” In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. That’s a strange request. What does Elisha want with those words, “a double por...

February 11, 2024  Today's Reading: Mark 9:2-9 Daily Lectionary: Job 7:1-21 ; John 4:7-26 Mark 9:6 “For he [Peter] did not know what to say, for they were terrified.” In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. It’s impressive—Jesus, God the Son from Heaven, standing on a mountain in radiant white clothing like never seen before. Moses lived some 1,500 years before the Transfiguration, he’s standing there with...

February 10, 2024  Today's Reading: Introit Psalm 99:1–5; antiphon: v. 9 Daily Lectionary: Job 6:1-13 ; John 3:1-21 Introit for the Transfiguration Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at his holy mountain;  for the Lord our God is holy! The Lord reigns; let the peoples tremble!  He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake! The Lord is great in Zion;  he is exalted over all the peoples...

February 9, 2024  Today's Reading:  Daily Lectionary: Job 6:1-13 ; John 3:1-21 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.” John 3:5 In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Nicodem...

February 8, 2024  Today's Reading: Luther’s Small Catechism , 7th Commandment Daily Lectionary: Job 5:1-27 ; John 2:13-25 As the head of the family should teach them in a simple way to his household. Commandment 7: You shall not steal. What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we do not take our neighbor’s money or possessions, or get them in any dishonest way, but help him to impro...

February 7, 2024  Today's Reading:  Daily Lectionary: Job 4:1-21 ; John 2:1-12 There was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples.   When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.”   And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” John 2:1-4:  I...

February 6, 2024  Today's Reading: 1 Corinthians 9:16-27 Daily Lectionary: Job 3:11-26 ; John 1:35-51 For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! …I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings. (1 Cor. 9:16,23) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The Apostle Paul wants to p...

February 5, 2024  Today's Reading: Isaiah 40:21-31 Daily Lectionary: Job 2:1-3:10 ; John 1:19-34 Isaiah 40:28-31: 28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God,     the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary;     his understanding is unsearchable. 29 He gives power to the faint,     and to him who has no might he increases strength. 30 Even y...

February 4, 2024  Today's Reading: Mark 1:29-39 Daily Lectionary: Job 1:1-22 ; John 1:1-18 “[Jesus] cast out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him .” (Mark 1:29-39) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The demons knew Jesus? Of course they did. Satan heard the first promise, the promise that Eve’s greater descendant would crush Satan’s head, giving salvation to t...

February 3, 2024  Today's Reading: Introit for Epiphany 5 Daily Lectionary: Job 2:1-3:10 ; John 1:19-34 I will sing to the Lord,  because he has dealt bountifully with me. Consider and answer me, O Lord my God;  light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death, lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,”  lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken. But I have trusted in your steadfast love;  my...

February 2, 2024  Today's Reading: Luke 2:22-40 Daily Lectionary: Zechariah 12:1-13:9 ; Titus 1:1-2:6 Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,  according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation  that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles,  and for glory to your people Israel.” (Luke 2:29-32) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen....