Reflections

May 10, 2024  Today's Reading: The Lord’s Prayer - Fourth Petition Daily Lectionary: Numbers 11:24-29, 12:1-16 ; Luke 17:20-37 What is the 4th petition of the Lord’s Prayer?  Give us this day our daily bread.   What does this mean? God certainly gives daily bread to everyone without our prayers, even to all evil people, but we pray in this petition that God would lead us to realize this and to rec...

May 9, 2024  Today's Reading: Luke 24:44-53 Daily Lectionary: Numbers 11:1-23, 31-35 ; Luke 17:1-19 And he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. (Luke 24:50-51) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Jesus ascends. You might wonder why this matters. It seems like the Ascension is the least importa...

May 8, 2024  Today's Reading: Numbers 10:11-36 Daily Lectionary: Numbers 10:11-36 ;  Luke 16:19-31 And whenever the ark set out, Moses said, “Arise, O Lord, and let your enemies be scattered, and let those who hate you flee before you.” And when it rested, he said, “Return, O Lord, to the ten thousand thousands of Israel.” (Numbers 10:35-36) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The ark of the covenant wa...

May 7, 2024 Today's Reading: 1 John 5:1-8 Daily Lectionary: Numbers 9:1-23 ;  Luke 16:1-18 [T]his is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” (1 John 5:4b) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Historians remember people in previous centuries who took over much of the world. These are the famous conquerors such as Alexander the Great, Attila the Hun, and Genghis Khan. These world leaders conque...

May 6, 2024  Today's Reading: Acts 10:34-48   Daily Lectionary: Numbers 8:5-26 ;  Luke 15:11-32 While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. (Acts 10:44-45) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The first be...

May 5, 2024  Today's Reading: John 15:9-17  Daily Lectionary:  Numbers 3:1-16, 39-48 ;  Number 4:1-8 ;  Luke 14:25-15:10 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”  (John 15:12) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Love is commanded. Therefore, this kind of love that Jesus speaks of is not a feeling. You cannot command anyone to feel a certain way. As much as you might wish...

May 4, 2024  Today's Reading: Psalm 66:1-2, 8-9, 20 ; antiphon: Psalm 66:16 Daily Lectionary: Leviticus 26:21-33, 39-44 , Numbers 1:1-2:34 , Luke 14:1-24 Blessed be God, because he has not rejected my prayer or removed his steadfast love from me! (Psalm 66:20) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. There is a common misunderstanding about prayer. Many people think that God hears prayers better if more peop...

May 3, 2024  Today's Reading: Luke 13:18-35 Daily Lectionary: Leviticus 26:1-20 , Luke 13:18-35 “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.”  (Luke 13:24) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Years ago, adults were shorter. If you want proof, go to the country of the Netherlands sometime and take a tour of some of the old Dutch windmills. The d...

May 2, 2024  Today's Reading: The Lord’s Prayer - Third Petition Daily Lectionary: Leviticus 24:1-23 , Leviticus 25:1-55 , Luke 12:54-13:17 What is the Third Petition? Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.   What does this mean? The good and gracious will of God is done even without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may be done among us also. How is God’s will done? God’s wi...

May 1, 2024  Today's Reading: John 14:1-14  Daily Lectionary: Leviticus 23:23-44, Luke 12:35-53 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip?” (John 14:8-9a) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Poor Philip. He’s trying to ask Jesus the right question, and Jesus just shakes His head. ‘Oh, Ph...

April 30, 2024  Today's Reading: 1 John 4:1-11, 12-21 Daily Lectionary: Leviticus 23:1-22 , Luke 12:13-34 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. (1 John 4:1) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Test the spirits? Are we talking about multiple choice? Fill in the blank? Maybe it’s the dreaded essay...

April 29, 2024 Today's Reading: Acts 8:26-40 Daily Lectionary: Leviticus 21:1-24 , Luke 12:1-12 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?” (Acts 8:35-36) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. There is one...

April 28, 2024  Today's Reading: John 15:1-8 Daily Lectionary: Leviticus 20:1-16, 22-27 , Luke 11:37-54 “Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.” (John 15:3) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. In Numbers 8:5-22 , Moses describes the cleansing ritual for the Levites, the servants of the Lord, at His Tabernacle. They had to be set apart from the other Israelites to be devoted...

April 27, 2024 Today's Reading: Psalm 145:1-2, 8, 10, 21 ; antiphon: John 16:16 Daily Lectionary: Leviticus 19:9-18, 26-37 ; Luke 11:14-36 The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. (From the Introit for Easter 5) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Unfortunately, the Old Testament picture of God most often seen in our world is that of a grumpy, angry, and spiteful...

April 26, 2024  Today's Reading: The Lord’s Prayer - Second Petition Daily Lectionary: Leviticus 18:1-7, 20-19:8 ; Luke 11:1-13 Thy Kingdom Come. What does this mean? The kingdom of God certainly comes by itself without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may come to us also. (The Lord's Prayer, the Second Petition, Small Catechism) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Where is God’s kingdom...

April 25, 2024  Today's Reading: Mark 16:14-20 Daily Lectionary: Leviticus 17:1-16 , Luke 10:23-42 Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. (St. Mark 16:14) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Ouch. Rebuked by the risen Jesus. Scolded by...

April 24, 2024 Today's Reading: Luke 10:1-22 Daily Lectionary: Leviticus 16:1-24 , Luke 10:1-22 “The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me.” (Luke 10:16) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Today, Jesus ordains seventy-two apostles and sends them into the countryside to herald His coming and preach His Word. He gives them v...

April 23, 2024  Today's Reading: 1 John 3:16-24 Daily Lectionary: Leviticus 10:1-20 , Leviticus: 11:1-15:33 , Luke 9:37-62 And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us. (1 Jo...

April 22, 2024  Today's Reading: Acts 4:1-12 Daily Lectionary: Leviticus 9:1-24 , Luke 9:18-36 “This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:11–12) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Do you think the world revolves around...

April 21, 2024 Today's Reading: John 10:11-18 Daily Lectionary: Leviticus: 8:1-13, 30-36 ; Luke 9:1-17 “For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.” (St. John 10:17–18) In...

April 20, 2024 Today's Reading: Psalm 23 ; antiphon: John 10:14, 15b Daily Lectionary: Exodus 40:17-38 , Leviticus 1:1-7:38 , Luke 8:40-56 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. (From the Introit for Easter 4) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Tomorrow, the Fourth Sunday of Easter, is known as Go...

April 19, 2024  Today's Reading: Luke 8:22-39 Daily Lectionary: Exodus 39:32-40:16 , Luke 8:22-39 And those who had seen it told them how the demon-possessed man had been healed. Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned. (Luke 8:36–37) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. “We d...

April 18, 2024  Today's Reading: The Lord’s Prayer - First Petition Daily Lectionary: Exodus 38:21-39:8, 22-23, 27-31 ; Luke 8:1-21 Hallowed be Thy name. How is God’s name kept holy? God’s name is kept holy when the Word of God is taught in its truth and purity, and we, as the children of God, also lead holy lives according to it. (The Lord's Prayer, the First Petition, Small Catechism) In the Nam...

April 17, 2024  Today's Reading: Exodus 34:29-35:21 Daily Lectionary: Exodus 34:29-35:21 , Exodus 35:22-38:20 , Luke 7:36-50 And they came, everyone whose heart stirred him, and everyone whose spirit moved him, and brought the LORD’s contribution to be used for the tent of meeting, and for all its service, and for the holy garments. (Exodus 35:21) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. If you ask most past...

April 16, 2024  Today's Reading: 1 John 3:1-7 Daily Lectionary: Exodus 34:1-28 , Luke 7:18-35 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. (1 John 3:2) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. One of the hardest things for us to understand is what the resurrected life will be like. When...