Reflections

September 14, 2025 Today's Reading: John 12:20-33 Daily Lectionary: 2 Chronicles 33:1-25 ; Jonah 1:1-4:11 ; Colossians 1:24-2:7 “ Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. ‘Now is my soul troubled. And...

September 13, 2025 Today's Reading: Introit for Pentecost 14 - Psalm 30:2-5; antiphon: Psalm 30:11a, 12b Daily Lectionary: 2 Chronicles 32:1-22 ; Hosea 1:1-14:9 ; Colossians 1:1-23 “For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.” (Psalm 30:5) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. It does not always feel like God’s anger...

September 12, 2025 Today's Reading: Philippians 4:1-23   Daily Lectionary: 2 Chronicles 31:1-21 ; Philippians 4:1-23   “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7) In the Name + o...

September 11, 2025 Today's Reading: Catechism: Daily Prayers: Morning & Evening Prayer Daily Lectionary: 2 Chronicles 29:1-24 ; Philippians 3:1-21 “For into Your hands I commend my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.” (Luther’s Morning & Evening Prayers) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. If you are not familiar with...

September 10, 2025 Today's Reading: Philippians 2:12-30 Daily Lectionary: 2 Kings 9:1-13; 10:18-29 ; 2 Kings 13:1-18:8 ; Philippians 2:12-30 “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” (Philippia...

September 9, 2025 Today's Reading: Philemon 1-21 Daily Lectionary: 2 Kings 6:1-23 ; 2 Kings 6:24-8:29 ; Philippians 1:21-2:11 “That you might have him back forever, no longer as a bonderservant, but more than a bonderservant, as a beloved brother” (Philemon 16) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Philemon is a short book and can seem an odd inclusion to the New Testament. It seems more like a private le...

September 8, 2025  Today's Reading: Deuteronomy 30:15-20 Daily Lectionary: 2 Kings 5:9-27 ; Philippians 1:1-20 “loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.” (Deuteronomy 30:20) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. God keeps...

September 7, 2025 Today's Reading: Luke 14:25-35 Daily Lectionary: 2 Kings 4:38-5:8 ; Ephesians 6:1-24 “For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?” (Luke 14:28) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Jesus gives examples of people who measured the cost of their goal and ultimately stepped away from it. A man would not build...

September 6, 2025 Today's Reading: Introit for Pentecost 13 - Psalm 119:28-32; antiphon: Psalm 119:27 Daily Lectionary: 2 Kings 4:8-22, 32-37 ; Ephesians 5:15-33 “I cling to your testimonies, O Lord; let me not be put to shame!” (Psalm 119:31) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Psalm 119 is the big one. This long psalm is the longest chapter in Scripture at a whopping 176 verses. Arranged in sections b...

September 5, 2025 Today's Reading: Ephesians 4:25-5:14 Daily Lectionary: 2 Kings 2:19-25; 4:1-7 ; Ephesians 4:25-5:14   “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” (Ephesians 4:30) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. There is a false teaching that says that no one could be lost if they have ever come to saving faith. Popularly going by the slogan, “Once sav...

September 4, 2025 Today's Reading: Catechism: Who Receives This Sacrament Worthily? Daily Lectionary: 2 Kings 2:1-18 ; Ephesians 4:1-24 Fasting and bodily preparation are certainly fine outward training. But that person is truly worthy and well prepared who has faith in these words: ‘Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.’  But anyone who does not believe these words or doubts them is...

September 3, 2025 Today's Reading: 1 Kings 19:1-21 Daily Lectionary: 1 Kings 19:1-21 ; 1 Kings 20:1-22:53 ; Ephesians 3:1-21 “And the angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched [Elijah] and said, ‘Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.’” (1 Kings 19:7) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. On the run from the enraged Queen Jezebel, Elijah went as far as he could go. But it wasn’t...

September 2, 2025 Today's Reading: Hebrews 13:1-17 Daily Lectionary: 1 Kings 18:20-40 ; Ephesians 2:1-22 “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:6) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The Lord helps you. And not because of anything you have done to merit this gracious favor. And also not because of who you are, who you are related to, or how much you have. Instead, G...

September 1, 2025 Today's Reading: Proverbs 25:2-10 Daily Lectionary: 1 Kings 18:1-19 ; Ephesians 1:1-23 “Do not reveal another's secret, lest he who hears you bring shame upon you, and your ill repute have no end.” (Proverbs 25:9b-10) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Some words were never meant to be said. Proverbs teaches that the secrets of your neighbor are not to be shared. A secret is anything...

August 31, 2025 Today's Reading: Luke 14:1-14 Daily Lectionary: 1 Kings 16:29-17:24 ; 2 Corinthians 10:1-13:14 ; 2 Corinthians 9:1-15 “Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 14:11) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. It has been said that pride was the cause of the devil’s fall from a good angel into an evil one. This view was held by some early C...

August 30, 2025 Today's Reading: Introit for Pentecost 12 - Psalm 75:1-2, 6, 9; antiphon: Psalm 75:7 Daily Lectionary: 1 Kings 12:20-13:5, 33-34 ; 1 Kings 14:1-16:28 ; 2 Corinthians 8:1-24 “We give thanks to you, O God; we give thanks, for your name is near.” (Psalm 75:1) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.  Tomorrow’s introit reminds us of this blessed reality: the Name of the Lord is near. In fact, it...

August 29, 2025  Today's Reading: Mark 6:14-29 Daily Lectionary: 1 Kings 11:42-12:19 ; 2 Corinthians 7:1-16 “Some said, ‘John the Baptist has been raised from the dead.’”  (Mark 6:14) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.  Jesus has a “creepy” cousin. You know the one: the “wild man.” He hung out in the wilderness, ate bugs, and went off on the sins of Herod, knowing full well that it could get him arrest...

August 28, 2025  Today's Reading: Catechism: How Can Bodily Eating and Drinking Do Such Great Things? Daily Lectionary: 1 Kings 11:1-26 ; 2 Corinthians 6:1-18 Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. (Small Catechism, SA) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.  Augustine had a lot to forgive. He was a wild child who knowingly avoided the Lord. His father was a pagan, but his mother was a Christi...

August 27, 2025 Today's Reading: Luke 13:22-30 Daily Lectionary: 1 Kings 9:1-9; 10:1-13 ; 2 Corinthians 5:1-21 “Strive to enter through the narrow door… And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God.” (Luke 13:24a, 29) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.  St. Monica encouraged her son, Augustine, toward the narrow door. She lived out her fa...

August 26, 2025  Today's Reading: Hebrews 12:4-24 (25-29) Daily Lectionary: 1 Kings 8:22-30, 46-63 ; 2 Corinthians 4:1-18 “Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.” (Hebrews 12:14) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.  Peace. In the news, we hear about working toward peace in places like Israel and its neighbors, Russia and Ukraine, China, North Korea,...

August 25, 2025 Today's Reading: Isaiah 66:18-23 Daily Lectionary: 1 Kings 7:51-8:21 ; 2 Corinthians 3:1-18 “The time is coming to gather all nations and tongues, and they shall come and shall see my glory.” (Isaiah 66:18b) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.  In the Harry Potter Wizarding World, non-magical people are called “Muggles,” or for a more vulgar slur, “Mud Bloods.” The Israelites who first h...

August 24, 2025 Today's Reading: John 1:43-51 Daily Lectionary: 1 Kings 5:1-18 ; 1 Kings 6:1-7:50 ; 2 Corinthians 1:23-2:17 “Nathanael said to him, ‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?’ Philip said to him, ‘Come and see’... Nathanael answered Him, ‘Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!’” (John 1:46, 49) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.  For Nathanel, also known as Bartholomew...

August 23, 2025 Today's Reading: Introit for Pentecost 11 - Psalm 117; antiphon: Psalm 96:6a; 115:18 Daily Lectionary: 1 Kings 3:1-15 ; 1 Kings 3:16-4:34 ; 2 Corinthians 1:1-22 “The faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.”  (Psalm 117:2) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. These words are easily said, but not so easily believed. God’s faithfulness endures… forever? Forever is a long time. A lot can ha...

August 22, 2025 Today's Reading: 1 Kings 2:1-27 Daily Lectionary: 1 Kings 2:1-27 ; 1 Corinthians 14:1-16:24 ; 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 “Keep the charge of the Lord your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his rules, and his testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn.” (1 Kings 2:3) In the Name + of...

August 21, 2025 Today's Reading: Catechism: What is the Benefit of This Eating and Drinking? Daily Lectionary: 1 Kings 1:1-4, 15-35 ; 1 Corinthians 12:14-31 What is the benefit of such eating and drinking? These words: “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins;” show us that in the Sacrament forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation are given us through these words. For where there is for...