Reflections

March 14, 2026 Today's Reading: Introit for Lent 4 - Psalm 122:1-2, 6, 8; antiphon: Isaiah 66:10a, 11a Daily Lectionary: Genesis 41:1-27 ; Mark 11:1-19 “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the LORD!’” (Psalm 122:1) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Guess what you get to do tomorrow? You get to go to church!  When I was younger, I’d ask my dad, “Do we have to go to church?” He’d...

March 13, 2026 Today's Reading: Mark 10:32-52 Daily Lectionary: Genesis 40:1-23 ; Mark 10:32-52 “And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, ‘Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.’ And he said to them, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ And they said to him, ‘Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.’” (Mark 10:3...

March 12, 2026 Today's Reading: Catechism: Ninth Commandment Daily Lectionary: Genesis 39:1-23 ; Mark 10:13-31 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we do not scheme to get our neighbor’s inheritance or house, or get it in a way which only appears right, but help and be of service to him in keeping it.” (Small Catechism: Ninth Commandm...

March 11, 2026 Today's Reading: Mark 10:1-12 Daily Lectionary: Genesis 37:1-36 ; Mark 10:1-12 “‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” (Mark 10:7-9) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. What is your favorite thing to see at a we...

March 10, 2026 Today's Reading: Ephesians 5:1-9 Daily Lectionary: Genesis 35:1-29 ; Mark 9:33-50 “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” (Ephesians 5:1-2) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. You don’t even need to look at the scientific research (although there is much!) to know that...

March 9, 2026 Today's Reading: Exodus 8:16-24 or Jeremiah 26:1-15 Daily Lectionary: Genesis 29:1-30; Genesis 29:31-34:31 ; Mark 9:14-32 “Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Rise up early in the morning and present yourself to Pharaoh, as he goes out to the water, and say to him, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Let my people go, that they may serve me. Or else, if you will not let my people go, behold, I will send...

March 8, 2026 Today's Reading: Luke 11:14-28 Daily Lectionary: Genesis 27:30-45; 28:10-22 ; Mark 9:1-13 “As he said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, ‘Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!’ But he said, ‘Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!’” (Luke 11:27-28) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. What does it mea...

March 7, 2026 Today's Reading: Introit for Lent 3 - Psalm 25:1-2, 17-18, 20; antiphon: Psalm 25:15-16 Daily Lectionary: Genesis 27:1-29 ; Mark 8:22-38 “To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.” (Psalm 25:1)   In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.   O Lord, to You I lift up my soul. I trust in You. Yes, my life rests on You, for You are the unshakable foundation. That’s what my Baptism tells me. I have been put...

March 6, 2026 Today's Reading: Mark 8:1-21 Daily Lectionary: Genesis 24:32-52, 61-67; Genesis 25:1-26:35 ; Mark 8:1-21 “And his disciples answered him, ‘How can one feed these people with bread here in this desolate place?’” (Mark 8:4) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. We can be so forgetful when it comes to our Lord’s compassion towards us, can’t we? We’re not alone! What good company we have with th...

March 5, 2026 Today's Reading: Catechism: Eighth Commandment Daily Lectionary: Genesis 24:1-31 ; Mark 7:24-37 “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 way.” (Luther’s meaning for the Eighth Commandment) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The Eight...

March 4, 2026 Today's Reading: Mark 7:1-23 Daily Lectionary: Genesis 22:1-19 ; Mark 7:1-23 “And he said, ‘What comes out of a person is what defiles him.’” (Mark 7:20) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The topic of food can get complicated these days with all of the diets out there: keto, carnivore, Mediterranean, vegetarian, gluten-free, etc. In Jesus’ day, food was a controversial topic. Lines were...

March 3, 2026 Today's Reading: 1 Thessalonians 4:1-7 or Romans 5:1-5 Daily Lectionary: Genesis 21:1-21 ; Mark 6:35-56 “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:1) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.   Through! What a tiny preposition, but that preposition is Good News for you! Paul states that “we have peace with God through our L...

March 2, 2026 Today's Reading: Genesis 32:22-32 Daily Lectionary: Genesis 18:1-15; Genesis 18:16-20:18 ; Mark 6:14-34 “Then he said, ‘Let me go, for the day has broken.’ But Jacob said, ‘I will not let you go unless you bless me.’” (Genesis 32:26)   In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.   What a wrestling match in Genesis 32! Not the one we would expect. Wasn’t the Lord on Jacob’s side? Yes, but here it a...

March 1, 2026 Today's Reading: Matthew 15:21-28 Daily Lectionary: Genesis 16:1-9, 15-17:22 ; Mark 6:1-13 “And [Jesus] answered, ‘It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.’” (Matthew 15:26) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Jesus calls her what?!? A dog! What many Jews labeled the Canaanites! Looks like a roadblock! A wall! This mommy doesn’t slink away, though, with her ta...

February 28, 2026 Today's Reading: Introit for Lent 2 - Psalm 25:1-2a, 7-8, 11; antiphon: Psalm 25:6, 2b, 22 Daily Lectionary: Genesis 15:1-21 ; Mark 5:21-43 “Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O Lord!” (Psalm 25:7) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Did you know that a person’s brain doesn’t fully develop...

February 27, 2026 Today's Reading: Mark 5:1-20 Daily Lectionary: Genesis 13:1-18 ; Genesis 14:1-24 ; Mark 5:1-20 “And crying out with a loud voice, he said, ‘What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?’” (Mark 5:7a)  In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. “Jesus is my homeboy.” Have you ever heard anyone say something like that? Yes, Jesus took on human flesh, but does that make Him a fun...

February 26, 2026 Today's Reading: Catechism: Seventh Commandment Daily Lectionary: Genesis 11:27-12:20 ; Mark 4:21-41 “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 improve and protect his possessions and income.” (Luther’s Small Catechism, The Seventh Commandment - What does this mean?) In the Name + of J...

February 25, 2026 Today's Reading: Hebrews 4:14-16 Daily Lectionary: Genesis 8:13-9:17 ; Genesis 9:18-11:26 ; Mark 4:1-20 “ For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. It could be argued that the best coaches in professional sports are the on...

February 24, 2026 Today's Reading: Matthew 11:25-30 Daily Lectionary: Genesis 7:11-8:12 ; Mark 3:20-35 “Jesus declared, ‘Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.’” (Matthew 11:28) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Our bodies need rest. Your brain can only study for so long before you need a break. Your voice can only practice singing for so long before it starts to get...

February 23, 2026 Today's Reading: Genesis 3:1-21 Daily Lectionary: Genesis 6:1-7:5 ; Mark 3:1-19 “And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.” (Genesis 3:8) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Have you ever played hide and seek with a toddler? They’re not v...

February 22, 2026 Today's Reading: Matthew 4:1-11 Daily Lectionary: Genesis 4:1-26 ; Mark 2:18-28 “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” (Matthew 4:1)  In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Because of our sinful nature, it doesn't always take a whole lot of prodding from Satan for us to succumb to temptation. Are you ever tempted by selfishness? After all, lo...

February 21, 2026 Today's Reading: Introit for Lent 1 - Psalm 91:1-2, 9-10, 13; antiphon: Psalm 91:15a, c, 16 Daily Lectionary: Genesis 3:1-24 ; Mark 2:1-17 “With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.” (Psalm 91:16) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. I’m not from Missouri, but I know that Missouri is known as the “Show Me” state. You might know the phrase “actions speak louder than wo...

February 20, 2026 Today's Reading: Mark 1:29-45 Daily Lectionary: Genesis 2:4-25 ; Mark 1:29-45 “And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.” (Mark 1:35) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Healings and more healings. This is what Jesus is doing. But amidst the healings is prayer. Jesus prays. We see this quite often w...

February 19, 2026 Today's Reading: Catechism: Sixth Commandment Daily Lectionary: Genesis 1:20-2:3 ; Mark 1:14-28 “You shall not commit adultery. What does this mean?” (Sixth Commandment, Luther’s Small Catechism) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. I have been a Lutheran for almost my whole life. I was baptized when I was just a couple of months old. I like to think of myself as a first-generation Luth...

February 18, 2026 Today's Reading:   Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 Daily Lectionary: Genesis 1:1-19 ; Mark 1:1-13 “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. When you think about treasure, maybe you think about buried treasure, chests full of gold, pirates searching for that which is lost, maps where X marks the spot.  Martin Luther said in thes...