Reflections

April 17, 2025  Today's Reading: Luke 22:7-20 Daily Lectionary: Exodus 12:1-28 ; Lamentations 4:1-22 ; Hebrews 5:1-14 ; Psalm 31 “ Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed.” (Luke 22:7) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The meal is ready. The week is coming to a close around the table of the Lord. Lazarus is resurrected from the dead. The temple is cleanse...

April 16, 2025 Today's Reading: John 13:16-38 Daily Lectionary: Exodus 10:21-11:10 ; Lamentations 3:1-66 ; Hebrews 4:1-16 “ So, after receiving the morsel of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night.” (John 13:30) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The time is drawing near for the Son of Man to be lifted up. His betrayal is imminent. The betrayer has dipped his hand with Christ. He has put on a...

April 15, 2025 Today's Reading: John 12:23-50 Daily Lectionary: Exodus 9:29-10:20 ; Lamentations 2:1-22 ; Hebrews 3:1-19 “ Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” (John 12:25) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. “If you are going to love someone, you first must love yourself.” The saying is popular among relationship gurus in our world to...

April 14, 2025 Today's Reading: John 12:1-23 Daily Lectionary: Exodus 9:1-28 ; Lamentations 1:1-22 ; Hebrews 2:1-18 “When the large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus was there, they came, not only on account of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well,” (John 12:9-10) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. “He is Risen...

April 13, 2025 Today's Reading: Luke 22:1-23:56 or Luke 23:1-56 or John 12:20-43 Daily Lectionary: Exodus 8:1-32 ; Psalm 118 ; Hebrews 1:1-14 “So Jesus said to them, ‘The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you...

April 12, 2025 Today's Reading: Introit for Palm Sunday - Psalm 24:7-10; antiphon: Psalm 118:26 Daily Lectionary: Exodus 7:1-25 ; Mark 16:1-20 Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. (Psalm 24:7)   In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.   Have you ever taken the time to notice the posture of someone who is struggling with death? As we mourn the lo...

April 11, 2025 Today's Reading: Exodus 5:1-6:1 Daily Lectionary: Exodus 5:1-6:1 ; Mark 15:33-47 “Afterward Moses and Aaron went and said to Pharaoh, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘Let my people go, that they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness.’”  But Pharaoh said, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, and moreover, I will not let...

April 10, 2025 Today's Reading: Catechism: The Lord's Prayer - The Introduction Daily Lectionary: Exodus 4:19-31 ; Mark 15:16-32 “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know th...

April 9, 2025 Today's Reading: Mark 15:1-15 Daily Lectionary: Exodus 4:1-18 ; Mark 15:1-15 “What evil has He done?” (Mark 15:14)   In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.   It was a fair question. In fact, it is THE question that needs to be answered at every single trial that has ever been held or ever will be held. Everyone needs to know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, whether the accused is guilty of the cr...

April 8, 2025 Today's Reading: Philippians 3:4b-7, 8-14 Daily Lectionary: Exodus 2:23-3:22 ; Mark 14:53-72 “I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” (Philippians 3:8)   In the name + of Jesus. Amen.      For better or for worse, there are situations in life that play by the rule, “It’s all about who you know.” If you want to get a job, a promotio...

April 7, 2025 Today's Reading: Isaiah 43:16-21 Daily Lectionary: Exodus 2:1-22 ; Mark 14:32-52 “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing;” (Isaiah 43:18-19a)   In the name of + Jesus. Amen.   Perhaps our Lord misspoke when divinely inspiring Isaiah to write the words set forth for us in today’s reading. At best, it seems like the Lord God is co...

April 6, 2025 Today's Reading: Luke 20:9-20 Daily Lectionary: Exodus 1:1-22 ; Mark 14:12-31 .    “When the tenants saw him, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Let us kill him, so that the inheritance may be ours.’” (Luke 20:14)   In the name of + Jesus. Amen. It makes no sense. This vineyard was perfect in every way. The ground was well cultivated and primed for production. It was planted...

April 5, 2025 Today's Reading: Introit for Lent 5 - Psalm 3:3-6; antiphon: Psalm 3:8 Daily Lectionary: Genesis 49:29-50:7, 14-26 ; Mark 14:1-11 “But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. I cried aloud to the Lord, and he answered me from his holy hill.” (Psalm 3:3-4) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.   “Shields” aren’t usually talked about in normal conversation. Som...

April 4, 2025 Today's Reading: Mark 13:24-37 Daily Lectionary: Genesis 47:1-31 ; Genesis 48:1-49:28 ; Mark 13:24-37 [Jesus said,]“From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pa...

April 3, 2025 Today's Reading: Catechism: The Lord's Prayer Daily Lectionary: Genesis 45:1-20, 24-28 ; Mark 13:1-23 Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil....

April 2, 2025 Today's Reading: Mark 12:28-44 Daily Lectionary: Genesis 44:1-18, 32-34 ; Mark 12:28-44   And [Jesus] sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this...

April 1, 2025 Today's Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 Daily Lectionary: Genesis 43:1-28 ; Mark 12:13-27 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.   Some people are good at making things with their hands. They build birdhouses or buildings; they shape bowls from clay; they paint and...

March 31, 2025 Today's Reading: Isaiah 12:1-6 Daily Lectionary: Genesis 42:1-34, 38 ; Mark 12:1-12 “You will say in that day: “I will give thanks to you, O Lord, for though you were angry with me, your anger turned away, that you might comfort me. Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.” (Isaiah...

March 30, 2025 Today's Reading: Luke 15:1-3, 11-32 Daily Lectionary: Genesis 41:28-57 ; Mark 11:20-33 “It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’” (Luke 15:32) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.  This parable is often called the “parable of the prodigal (or lost) son.” But the younger son isn’t really the main character in the para...

March 29, 2025 Today's Reading: Introit for Lent 4 - Psalm 51:2-6; antiphon: Psalm 51:1 Daily Lectionary: Genesis 41:1-27 ; Mark 11:1-19 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me… Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. (Psalm 51:3, 5) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Taking stock of yourself and how you talk about yourself are important. Counse...

March 28, 2025 Today's Reading: Mark 10:32-34 Daily Lectionary: Genesis 40:1-23 ; Mark 10:32-52 [Jesus] began to tell them what was to happen to him,saying, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles. And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him a...

March 27, 2025 Today's Reading: Catechism: The Creed - The Third Article Daily Lectionary: Genesis 39:1-23 ; Mark 10:13-31 I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. What does this mean? I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord,...

March 26, 2025  Today's Reading: 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 Daily Lectionary: Genesis 37:1-36 ; Mark 10:1-12 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:13) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.   Temptation...

March 25, 2025 Today's Reading: Luke 1:26-38 Daily Lectionary: Genesis 35:1-29 ; Mark 9:33-50 [The angel answered her,] “For nothing will be impossible with God.” And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. (Luke 1:37-38) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. This isn’t the way that parents usually find out they are having...

March 24, 2025  Today's Reading: Ezekiel 33:7-20 Daily Lectionary: Genesis 29:1-30 ; Genesis 29:31-34:31 ; Mark 9:14-32 “And you, son of man, say to the house of Israel, Thus have you said: ‘Surely our transgressions and our sins are upon us, and we rot away because of them. How then can we live?’ Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but tha...