Reflections

April 7, 2024 Today's Reading: John 20:19-31 Daily Lectionary: Exodus 20:1-24 , Luke 4:1-15 …Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. (John 21:19b-20) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Scars tell a story. I got a new scar on my chest not long ago. I had galls...

April 6, 2024  Today's Reading: Psalm 105:1-5, 8 ; antiphon: 1 Peter 2:2-3  Daily Lectionary: Exodus 19:1-25 , Hebrews 13:1-21 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. (1 Peter 2:2-3, Antiphon for the Introit on the Second Sunday of Easter) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. In tomorrow’s Introit,...

April 5, 2024  Today's Reading: Hebrews 12:1-24 Daily Lectionary: Exodus 18:5-27 , Hebrews 12:1-24 Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1b-2) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. We’...

April 4, 2024  Today's Reading: The Lord’s Prayer Daily Lectionary: Exodus 17:1-16 , Hebrews 11:1-29 In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Prayer is a conversation that God starts in His Word. This fact still surprises a lot of Christians. We tend to think that prayer is us sending our requests to God, and then hearing back nothing at all until something happens. That’s missing the very half of prayer tha...

April 3, 2024  Today's Reading: John 21:1-14 Daily Lectionary: Exodus 16:13-35 , Hebrews 10:19-39 When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. (John 21:7b) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Why does Peter throw himself into the sea? Perhaps Peter was just so excited to see Jesus that he couldn’t wait to get to s...

April 2, 2024  Today's Reading: Luke 24:36-49 Daily Lectionary: Exodus 15:19-16:12 , Hebrews 10:1-18 [Jesus] said to them,“Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.” (Luke 24:46-47) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. If you ever find...

April 1, 2024  Today's Reading: Luke 24:13-35, 36-49 Daily Lectionary: Exodus 15:1-18 , Hebrews 9:1-28 And He said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. (Luke 24:17) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Yesterday, we heard that Jesus has conquered death by His resurrection. That’s good news for us. We no longer need to be...

March 31, 2024  Today's Reading: Mark 16:1-8   Daily Lectionary: Exodus 14:10-31 , Hebrews 7:23-8:13 “You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; He is not here. See the place where they laid Him.” (Mark 16:6) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. If you haven’t noticed, death is the one thing our whole world is running away from. We hide death away in hospitals and nursing homes so no on...

March 30, 2024  Today's Reading: John 19: 38-42 Daily Lectionary: Exodus 13:17-14:9 , Hebrews 7:1-22 Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid.  So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there. (John 19:41-42) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. As Jesus' body is laid to...

March 29, 2024  Today's Reading: John 18:1-19:42 , John 19:17-37 Daily Lectionary: Exodus 12:29-32; 13:1-16 ; Lamentations 5:1-22 , Hebrews 6:1-20 , Psalm 22 When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic.  The tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom, so they said to one another, “Let us no...

March 28, 2024  Today's Reading: Mark 14:22-26  Daily Lectionary: Exodus 12:1-28 , Lamentations 4:1-22 , Hebrews 5:1-14 , Psalm 31 And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.”  And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it.  And he said to them, “This is my blood of the...

March 27, 2024  Today's Reading: Mark 14:12-21 Daily Lectionary: Exodus 10:21-11:10 , Lamentations 3:1-66 , Hebrews 4:1-16 Jesus said, “Truly I say to you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.”  They began to be sorrowful and to say to him one after another, “Is it I?”.  (Mark 14:18-19) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Have you ever found it odd that the disciples need to ask Jesus i...

March 26, 2024  Today's Reading: Mark 14:1-15:47 , John 12:20-50 Daily Lectionary: Exodus 9:29-10:20 , Lamentations 2:1-22 , Hebrews 3:1-19 Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks.  So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” (John 12:20-21) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. I have this phrase, “Sir, we wish to se...

March 25, 2024  Today's Reading: Luke 1:26-38 Daily Lectionary: Exodus 9:1-28 , Lamentations 1:1-22 , Hebrews 2:1-18 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.  And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.” (Luke 1:30-31) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.  Since the Fall our sinful nature can’t comprehend a Go...

March 24, 2024  Today's Reading: John 12:12-19   Daily Lectionary: Exodus 8:1-32 , Psalm 118 , Hebrews 1:1-14 So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna!  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” (John 12:13) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. It’s a strange thing to see a king riding triumphantly to His death, especially when He...

March 23, 2024  Today's Reading: Psalm 24   Daily Lectionary: Exodus 7:1-25 , Mark 16:1-20 Lift up your heads, O gates!  And lift them up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.   (Psalm 24:9) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. God comes to us.  That is what He does.  Time and time again, He comes to His lost and fallen creation.  He comes to people.  He communes with them.  He bestows gr...

March 22, 2024  Today's Reading: Mark 10:32-34 Daily Lectionary: Exodus 5:1-6:1 , Mark 15:33-47 [Jesus said,] “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 and kill him.  And after three days he will ris...

March 21, 2024  Today's Reading: The Creed Daily Lectionary: Exodus 4:19-31 , Mark 15:16-32 Who has redeemed me, a lost and condemned person, purchased and won me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil; not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death. ( The Second Article:  Part Two ) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The Second...

March 20, 2024  Today's Reading: Hebrews 5:1-10 Daily Lectionary: Exodus 4:1-18 , Mark 15:1-15 And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek. (Hebrews 5:9-10) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. You hear a lot of priestly stuff and temple stuff and tabernacle stuff in the book of Hebrews.  It ca...

March 19, 2024  Today's Reading: Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23 Daily Lectionary: Exodus 2:23-3:22 , Mark 14:53-72 And [Joseph] rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt and remained there until the death of Herod.  This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my Son.” (Matthew 2:14-15) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Is it too much to say t...

March 18, 2024  Today's Reading: Jeremiah 31:31-37 Daily Lectionary: Exodus 2:1-22 , Mark 14:32-52 And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, “Know the Lord,” for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord.  For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” (Jeremiah 31:34) In the Name + of Jesus. Am...

March 17, 2024  Today's Reading: Mark 10:35-45 Daily Lectionary: Exodus 1:1-22 , Mark 14:12-31 [Jesus said,] “But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.  For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:43b-45) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. James and John, the...

March 16, 2024  Today's Reading: Psalm 116:1-4, 8 ; antiphon: Psalm 43:1  Daily Lectionary: Genesis 49:29-50:7, 14-26 ; Mark 14:1-11 But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have me. She has done what she could; she has anointed my b...

March 15, 2024  Today's Reading: Mark 13:24-37 Daily Lectionary: Genesis 47:1-31 , Genesis 48:1-49:28 , Mark 13:24-37 But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come.\ (Mark 13: 32-33) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. There is a cottage industry dedicated to deciph...

March 14, 2024  Today's Reading: Mark 13:1-23 Daily Lectionary: Genesis 45:1-20, 24-28 ; Mark 13:1-23 And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. This must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These are but the beginning of the birth pains. (Mark...