Reflections

November 3, 2025 Today's Reading: Isaiah 1:10-18 Daily Lectionary: Jeremiah 3:6-4:2 ; Matthew 22:1-22 “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.” (Isaiah 1:18). In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Have you ever put on clothes thinking they were clean only to find out t...

November 2, 2025 Today's Reading: Luke 19:1-10 Daily Lectionary: Jeremiah 1:1-19 ; Matthew 21:23-46 “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:10) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. For whatever reason, Zacchaeus sought to see Jesus. And in an ironic turn of events, it is actually Jesus who seeks after Zacchaeus. He spots him up a Sycamore tree and calls out, “Hurry and come down,...

November 1, 2025 Today's Reading: Matthew 5:1-12 Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 34:1-12 ; Matthew 21:1-22 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.  Imagine the disciples and the huge crowd gathered around Jesus for the Sermon on the Mount. They nod to each of the Beatitudes, maybe with a little less boldness as Jesus continues. Perhaps the...

October 31, 2025 Today's Reading: Matthew 11:12-19 Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 32:28-52 ; Deuteronomy 33:1-29 ; Matthew 20:17-34 “From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence” (Matthew 11:12) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.  “Lord, I thank you that I am not like other church bodies: Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, the Baptists…” Sound familiar? Just a...

October 30, 2025 Today's Reading: Introit for Pentecost 21 - Psalm 50:1-2, 14-15; antiphon: Psalm 50:23 Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 31:30-32:27 ; Matthew 20:1-16 “The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; the one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!” (Psalm 50:23) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.  You know our situation. As human beings, we are conceived...

October 29, 2025 Today's Reading: 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18 Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 31:1-29 ; Matthew 19:16-30 “No one came to stand by me, but all deserted me… But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed.” (2 Timothy 4:16,17) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.  Even St. Paul felt isolated at times. While standing in court, defending the fai...

October 28, 2025 Today's Reading: John 15:(12-16) 17-21 Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 30:1-20 ; Matthew 19:1-15 “I chose you out of the world.” (John 15:19) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.  As we remember the Apostles of our Lord throughout the year, we might feel sorry for a few of them. Poor Simon “the Zealot” and Jude (a.k.a. Judas, or Thaddeus). They are some of the more obscure of Jesus’ discip...

October 27, 2025 Today's Reading: Genesis 4:1-15 Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 29:1-29 ; Matthew 18:21-35 “And the Lord put a mark on Cain, lest any who found him should attack him.” (Genesis 4:15) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.  Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know; am I my brother's keeper?” (Genesis 4:9)  Even after his heinous act is done, Cain does...

October 26, 2025 Today's Reading: Luke 18:9-17 Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 28:1-22 ; Matthew 18:1-20 “But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other.” (Luke 18:13-14a) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.  “Great sermon, Pasto...

October 25, 2025 Today's Reading: Introit for Pentecost 20 - Psalm 56:10-13; antiphon: Psalm 56:3 Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 27:1-26 ; Matthew 17:14-27 “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in the Lord, whose word I praise, In God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me? I must perform my vows to you, O God; I will render thank offerings to you. Fo...

October 24, 2025 Today's Reading: Catechism: Table of Duties - To Husbands Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 25:17-26:19 ; Matthew 17:1-13 “Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers. (1 Peter 3:7) Husbands, love your wives and do not...

October 23, 2025  Today's Reading: Matthew 13:54-58 Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 24:10-25:10 ; Matthew 16:13-28 “And coming to his hometown [Jesus] taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, ‘Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works? Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and...

October 22, 2025 Today's Reading: Matthew 16:1-12 Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 21:1-23 ; Deuteronomy 22:1-24:9 ; Matthew 16:1-12 “[Jesus said,] ‘Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.’ Then they understood that he did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” (Matthew 16:11-12) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.  Your warning: “B...

October 21, 2025 Today's Reading: 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5 Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 20:1-20 ; Matthew 15:21-39 “I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when peop...

October 20, 2025 Today's Reading: Genesis 32:22-30 Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 19:1-20 ; Matthew 15:1-20 “A man wrestled with [Jacob] until the breaking of the day. When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob's hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. Then he said, ‘Let me go, for the day has broken.’ But Jacob said, ‘I will not let you g...

October 19, 2025 Today's Reading: Luke 18:1-8 Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 18:1-22 ; Matthew 14:22-36 “[Jesus said,] ‘Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on Earth?’” (Luke 18:8) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.  Jesus is giving you the Gift of prayer by presenting to you a judge who is so ridiculously bad that no reasonable person would waste time asking a favor of this judge...

October 18, 2025 Today's Reading: Luke 10:1-9 Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 17:1-20 ; Matthew 14:1-21 “Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has...

October 17, 2025 Today's Reading: Introit for Pentecost 19 - Psalm 74:18-19, 21, 20a, 22a; antiphon: Psalm 74:2a Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 15:19-16:22 ; Matthew 13:44-58 “Remember this, O LORD, how the enemy scoffs, and a foolish people reviles your name. Do not deliver the soul of your dove to the wild beasts; do not forget the life of your poor forever. Have regard for the covenant, for the...

October 16, 2025 Today's Reading: Catechism: Table of Duties - Of Citizens Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 14:1-2, 22-23, 14:28-15:15 ; Matthew 13:24-43 “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our...

October 15, 2025 Today's Reading: Matthew 13:1-23 Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 13:1-18 ; Matthew 13:1-23 “And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of so...

October 14, 2025 Today's Reading: 2 Timothy 2:1-13 Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 12:13-32 ; Matthew 12:38-50 “Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that i...

October 13, 2025 Today's Reading: Ruth 1:1-19a Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 11:26-12:12 ; Matthew 12:22-37 “And she said, ‘See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.’ But Ruth said, ‘Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, an...

October 12, 2025 Today's Reading: Luke 17:11-19 Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 11:1-25 ; Matthew 12:1-21 “When he saw them he said to them, 'Go and show yourselves to the priests.’ And as they went they were cleansed. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then...

October 11, 2025 Today's Reading: Introit for Pentecost 18 - Psalm 34:2-4, 17; antiphon: Psalm 48:1a Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 9:23-10:22 ; Matthew 11:20-30 “My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad. Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together! I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.” (Psalm 34:2-4) In the Name...

October 10, 2025 Today's Reading: Matthew 11:1-19 Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 9:1-22 ; Matthew 11:1-19 “Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force....