Reflections

November 9, 2023 Today's Reading:   Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 21:1-23 , Matthew 16:1-12 “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” So he left them and departed.” (Matthew 16:4) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Jesus tells the Pharisees that there will be no sign except the sign of Jonah, His death and Resurrection.  Then He rebu...

November 8, 2023 Today's Reading: Luther's Small Catechism: Confession Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 20:1-20 , Matthew 15:21-39 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. In the Name + of Jesus....

November 7, 2023 Today's Reading: 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12 Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 19:1-20 , Matthew 15:1-20 “For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality;” (1 Thessalonians 4:3) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. For all the talk of sexual ethics in the church, it’s easy to overlook the first and most important sentence.  God wills you to be holy.  So H...

November 6, 2023 Today's Reading: Micah 3:5-12 Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 18:1-22 , Matthew 14:22-36 “Thus says the LORD concerning the prophets who lead my people astray, who cry “Peace” when they have something to eat, but declare war against him who puts nothing into their mouths.” (Micah 3:5) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. People have been weaponizing religion ever since sinners realized the...

November 5, 2023 Today's Reading: Matthew 23:1-12 Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 17:1-20 , Matthew 14:1-21 “And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven.” (Matthew 23:9) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. These verses either read like a threat to authority or an excuse to ignore it.  Maybe because the whole “unity in Christ” bit would be a lot easier if we weren’t told...

November 4, 2023 Today's Reading: Introit for Pentecost 23: Psalm 149:1-4 ; antiphon Psalm 148:13 Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 15:19-16:22 , Matthew 13:44-58 For the LORD takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with salvation. (Psalm 149:4) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. We treat it like it reads “pretend to be less than you are and God will be happy with you.”  Really, it’s “when you a...

November 3, 2023 Today's Reading: 1 Thessalonians 2:1-13 Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 14:1-2, 22-23, 14:18-15:15 , Matthew 13:24-43 We exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory. (1 Thessalonians 2:12) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Paul throws this verse in at the end of telling everyone how great a j...

November 2, 2023 Today's Reading: Luther's Small Catechism: Baptism Part 4 Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 13:1-18 , Matthew 13:1-23 What does such baptizing with water indicate? It indicates that the Old Adam in us should by daily contrition and repentance be drowned and die with all sins and evil desires, and that a new man should daily emerge and arise to live before God in righteousness and puri...

November 1, 2023 Today's Reading: Matthew 5:1-12 Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 12:13-32 , Matthew 12:38-50 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”  (Matthew 5:8) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Some folks feel awkward in church.  They don’t fit the decor.  They know it. To them, the whole thing feels fake.  It might be where the meek go, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness...

October 31, 2023 Today's Reading: Romans 3:19-29 Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 11:26-12:12 , Matthew 12:22-37 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it. (Romans 3:21) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.  Words of law are always the most optimistic. “This is what we should do.  I have a plan.” They bear witness to righteo...

October 30, 2023 Today's Reading: Leviticus 19:1-2,15-18 Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 11:1-25 , Matthew 12:1-21 “Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them, You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy."  (Leviticus 19:2) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. I’ve never had to go to court, so I guess I haven’t done injustice there.  Mostly because I’ve never gotten caught...

October 29, 2023 Today's Reading: Matthew 22:34-46 Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 9:23-10:22 , Matthew 11:20-30 And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. (Matthew 22:35 ) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The Pharisees were a lot of things, but stupid wasn’t one of them.  If the question seemed too easy on the surface, you’re right.  The core of the 10 commandments is love.  Love the...

October 28, 2023 Today's Reading: John 15:12-21 Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 9:1-22 ,  Matthew 11:1-19 If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.  (John 15: 18-19) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Happy St...

October 27, 2023 Today's Reading: Matthew 10:24-42 Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 8:1-20 , Matthew 10:24-42 Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.  (Matthew 10:39) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Life is full of so many unexpected twists and turns.  There are always those things that we never anticipated happening, being dumped into your lap.  We...

October 26, 2023 Today's Reading: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 7:1-19 , Matthew 10:1-23 They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,  and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath. ( 1 Thess. 1: 9-10) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. It’s hard to be hopeful today about many things....

October 25, 2023 Today's Reading: Luther's Small Catechism: Baptism Part 3 Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 6:10-25 , Matthew 9:19-38 “Clearly it is not the water that does it, but the word of God that is in and with the water, and the faith that trusts this word of God in the water. For without God’s word the water is plain water and no Baptism.” In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Water is the greatest e...

October 24, 2023 Today's Reading: Isaiah 45:1-7 Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 5:22-6:9 , Matthew 9:1-17 “This is what the Lord says to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I take hold of…”. (Isaiah 45:1) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Have you ever seen God work in someone that you totally never expected?  Maybe the person was a nominal Christian or maybe they were the furthest thing from a Chr...

October 23, 2023 Today's Reading: Acts 15:12-22 Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 5:1-21 , Matthew 8:18-34 After they finished speaking, James replied, “Brothers, listen to me. (Acts 15:13) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. You all probably know someone who does not believe in Jesus.  I'd be surprised if anyone reading this doesn't have a dear loved one, who does not trust in Christ. It's the saddest thin...

October 22, 2023 Today's Reading: Matthew 22:15-22 Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 4:21-40 , Matthew 8:1-17 And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?”  (Matthew 22:20) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The Pharisees today try to trap Jesus. They want to see if He would be for or against paying taxes to the Romans.  Jesus famously uses the image of Caesar on the coin to show that H...

October 21, 2023 Today's Reading: Introit to Pentecost 21: Psalm 121:1-4, 7-8 ; antiphon Psalm 121:5 Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 4:1-20 , Matthew 7:13-29 The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Psalm 121 is a “song of ascent”. It was sung by the pilgrims who were making their journey to Jerusalem and the temple.  Th...

October 20, 2023 Today's Reading:   Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 3:1-29 , Matthew 7:1-12 “Do not judge others..”. (Matthew 7:1) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. If you ever watch a courtroom trial on TV, you will always notice the trial takes time. Sometimes the trial is a few hours, sometimes it takes months. You will always notice that the judge doesn’t immediately make a judgment at the start of...

October 19, 2023 Today's Reading: Luther's Small Catechism, Baptism Part 2 Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 2:16-37 , Matthew 6:16-34 It works forgiveness of sins, rescues from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe this, as the words and promises of God declare. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.   Baptism today is practiced by so many Christians throughout the world today. ...

October 18, 2023 Today's Reading: Luke 10:1-9 Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 1:37-2:15 , Matthew 6:1-15 Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you. (Luke 10:9) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. Today’s verses have certainly been used by so many to give a pep rally for us to go out and proclaim the Kingdom of God in all that we do.  Th...

October 17, 2023 Today's Reading: Philippians 4:4-13 Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 1:19-36 , Matthew 5:21-48 “The Lord is at hand…” In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The Lord is at hand..Rejoice in the Lord always…do not be anxious about anything”. Yeah that seems like it's not gonna happen.  When you look at everything around us today it seems like there is very little to rejoice over.  If the strugg...

October 16, 2023 Today's Reading: Isaiah 25:6-9 Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 1:1-18 , Matthew 5:1-20 And he will swallow up on this mountain the covering that is cast over all peoples, the veil that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death forever.  (Isaiah 25:7) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Many of us can probably remember a very special meal that we were a part of.  It may have bee...