Reflections

August 20, 2025 Today's Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:1-13 Daily Lectionary: 2 Samuel 12:1-25 ; 2 Samuel 13:1-19:43 ; 1 Corinthians 12:1-13 “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed.” (1 Corinthians 12:1) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. There are a bunch of strange, hare-brained ideas out there. This is especially clear when the topic of “spiritual gifts” comes up. So...

August 19, 2025 Today's Reading: Hebrews 11:17-31 (32-40); 12:1-3 Daily Lectionary: 2 Samuel 11:1-27 ; 1 Corinthians 11:17-34 “By faith…” (Heb.11:17a) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Hebrews 11 is called “the great chapter on faith,” and it’s obvious why. Every Lutheran should cherish this chapter, because all over the place it says, “By faith.” That’s a big part of the Lutheran, Biblical teaching....

August 18, 2025 Today's Reading: Jeremiah 23:16-29 Daily Lectionary: 2 Samuel 7:18-29 ; 1 Corinthians 10:23-11:16 “[The Lord says] ‘I did not send the prophets, yet they ran; I did not speak to them, yet they prophesied.’” (Jeremiah 23:21) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. You cannot rightly judge a preacher based on his personality, his popularity, or his effectiveness. You cannot rightly judge a pre...

August 17, 2025 Today's Reading: Luke 12:49-53 (54-56) Daily Lectionary: 2 Samuel 7:1-17 ; 1 Corinthians 9:24-10:22 “[Jesus said,] ‘Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.’” (Luke 12:51) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. So much for that familiar Christmas hymn. So much for “peace on earth and mercy mild” (LSB 380:1). For Jesus says that He did not co...

August 16, 2025 Today's Reading: Introit for Pentecost 10 - Psalm 55:1, 12-14, 16; antiphon: Psalm 55:22 Daily Lectionary: 2 Samuel 6:1-19; 1 Corinthians 9:1-23 “Give ear to my prayer, O God, and hide not yourself from my plea for mercy!” (Psalm 55:1) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.  Isn’t it a gift? In the lowest moments we have, the hardest experiences we struggle through, the long nights, and tea...

August 15, 2025 Today's Reading: Luke 1:(39-45) 46-55 Daily Lectionary: 2 Samuel 5:1-25 ; 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 “And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.” (Luke 1:50) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.  Mary sings with hope. Over a short period of time, she has been visited by an angel, told she would carry a baby, told that this baby is the Son of God, trusted the announce...

August 14, 2025 Today's Reading: Catechism: What is the Sacrament of the Altar? Daily Lectionary: 2 Samuel 1:1-27 ; 1 Corinthians 7:25-40 It is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ under the bread and wine, instituted by Christ Himself for us Christians to eat and to drink. (Catechism: What is the Sacrament of the Altar?)  In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.  Simple, plain, boring language....

August 13, 2025 Today's Reading: 1 Corinthians 7:1-24 Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 31:1-13 ; 1 Corinthians 7:1-24 “Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him.” (1 Corinthians 7:17a) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.  These words are so great because they make me immediately bristle and feel defensive. In my Western-culture, independent, sinful m...

August 12, 2025 Today's Reading: Hebrews 11:1-16 Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 28:3-25 ; 1 Samuel 29:1-30:31 ; 1 Corinthians 6:1-20 “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.  These words are a great reminder. God is not impressed by works. We ca...

August 11, 2025 Today's Reading: Genesis 15:1-6 Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 26:1-25 ; 1 Samuel 27:1-28:2 ; 1 Corinthians 5:1-13 “But Abram said, ‘O Lord GOD, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?’” (Genesis 15:2) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.  These verses in Genesis are amazing promises that God gives to Abram: “I am your shield; your rew...

August 10, 2025  Today's Reading: Luke 12:22-34 (35-40) Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 25:23-44 ; 1 Corinthians 4:1-21 “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” (Luke 12:32) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.  These verses speak about anxiety. Yikes. Guilty—party of one. And often, when I read them, I immediately become anxious about how anxious I am and how I...

August 9, 2025 Today's Reading: Introit for Pentecost 9 - Psalm 147:8-11; antiphon: Psalm 147:7 Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 25:1-22 ; 1 Corinthians 3:1-23 “His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the legs of a man,but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.” (Psalm 147:10-11) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.  Racing fans deli...

August 8, 2025 Today's Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:26-2:16 Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 24:1-22 ; 1 Corinthians 1:26-2:16 “But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence...

August 7, 2025 Today's Reading: Catechism: What Sins Should We Confess? Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 20:24-42 ; 1 Samuel 21:1-23:29 ; 1 Corinthians 1:1-25 Before God we should plead guilty of all sins, even those we are not aware of, as we do in the Lord’s Prayer; but before the pastor we should confess only those sins which we know and feel in our hearts. (Explanation of What Sins Should We Confess...

August 6, 2025  Today's Reading: Acts 28:16-31 Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 20:1-23 ; Acts 28:16-31 “From morning till evening he expounded to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets.” (Acts 28:23) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.  Martin Luther once said, “Anywhere you cut the pages of Scripture it bleeds the blood...

August 5, 2025  Today's Reading: Colossians 3:1-11 Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 19:1-24 ; Acts 28:1-15 “For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” (Colossians 3:3-4) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.  Springtime rolls around on the calendar, and you take a handful of pumpkin seeds, dig a hole in the g...

August 4, 2025 Today's Reading: Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14; 2:18-26 Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 18:10-30 ; Acts 27:27-44 “There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment?” (Ecclesiastes 2:24-25) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. C.S. Lewis once said, “G...

August 3, 2025 Today's Reading: Luke 12:13-21 Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 17:48-18:9 ; Acts 27:9-26 “And David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone and slung it and struck the Philistine on his forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the ground.” (1 Samuel 17:49) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.  When we picture God going into his armory to find the right weapons...

August 2, 2025 Today's Reading: Introit for Pentecost 8 - Psalm 49:7-8, 13-14a, 15; antiphon: Psalm 49:1-2 Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 17:20-47 ; Acts 26:24-27:8 “But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me.” (Psalm 49:15) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.  In Perelandra , the second book in C.S. Lewis’s Space Trilogy , the main character is sent to the planet Perelandra...

August 1, 2025 Today's Reading: 1 Samuel 17:1-19 Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 17:1-19 ; Acts 26:1-23 “David was the youngest. The three eldest followed Saul,but David went back and forth from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem.” (1 Samuel 17:14-15) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.  God has a pattern of doing things in ways we least expect. Back in Genesis, who did God choose to be the bearer...

July 31, 2025  Today's Reading: Catechism: What is Confession? Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 16:1-23 ; Acts 25:13-27 Confession has two parts. First, that we confess our sins, and second, that we receive absolution, that is, forgiveness, from the pastor as from God himself, not doubting, but firmly believing that by it our sins are forgiven before God in heaven. (Explanation of What Is Confession, Lu...

July 30, 2025 Today's Reading: 1 Samuel 15:10-35 Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 15:10-35 ; Acts 24:24-25:12 “Saul said to Samuel, ‘I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice. Now therefore, please pardon my sin and return with me that I may bow before the Lord.’” (1 Samuel 15:24-25) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen....

July 29, 2025  Today's Reading: Colossians 2:6-15 (16-19) Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 14:47-15:9 ; Acts 24:1-23 “And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.” (Colossians...

July 28, 2025  Today's Reading: Genesis 18:(17-19) 20-33 Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 13:1-18 ; Acts 23:12-35 “Then Abraham drew near and said, ‘Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?” (Genesis 18:23) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.  Watch any police TV show or courtroom drama, and sooner or later you’ll hear the phrase, “If you do not have, or cannot afford a lawyer, the court will...

July 27, 2025  Today's Reading: Luke 11:1-13 Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 12:1-25 ; Acts 22:30-23:11 “Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.’” (Luke 11:1) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.  When you learned your ABCs, someone took a crayon and showed you how to draw the letters. When you lea...