Reflections

July 7, 2023 Today's Reading:  Daily Lectionary: Proverbs 22:1-21 , John 18:1-14 “Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.” (John 18:4–6 ESV) In...

July 6, 2023 Today's Reading:  Daily Lectionary: Proverbs 20:5-25, John 17:1-26 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” (John 17:20–21 ESV) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.  The words of Jesus in...

July 5, 2023 Today's Reading:   Table of Duties, Luther’s Small Catechism: Second Article Part 1 Daily Lectionary: Proverbs 17:1-28 , John 16:17-33 And [I believe] in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead...

July 4, 2023 Today's Reading: Jeremiah 28:5-9   Daily Lectionary: Proverbs 16:1-24 , John 16:1-16 As for the prophet who prophesies peace, when the word of that prophet comes to pass, then it will be known that the LORD has truly sent the prophet. (Jeremiah 28:9 ESV) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Context is one of the most important things to take into account when reading the Scriptures. Without...

July 3, 2023 Today's Reading: Matthew 10:34-42   Daily Lectionary: Proverb 15:1-29 , John 15:12-27 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.” (Matthew 10:34 ESV) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Our reading presents us with a Jesus who is not familiar to us. We tend to like our Jesus meek and mild with never a raised voice or a harsh word...

July 2, 2023 Today's Reading:   Luke 1:39-56 Daily Lectionary: Proverbs 14:1-27 , John 15:1-11 “He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.” (Luke 1:54–55 ESV) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. ‘A pregnant virgin goes to visit a pregnant old lady’ sounds like the opening line of a joke or the pitch for a really awf...

July 1, 2023 Today's Reading:  Introit for Pentecost 5: Psalm 89:15 ; antiphon Psalm 89:1 Daily Lectionary: Proverbs 13:1-25 , John 14:18-31 Blessed are the people who know the festal shout, who walk, O LORD, in the light of your face, who exult in your name all the day and in your righteousness are exalted. (Psalm 89:15–16 ESV) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. How long has it been since you let loos...

June 30, 2023 Today's Reading:  Daily Lectionary: Proverbs 10:1-23 , John 14:1-17 “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6 ESV) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. You would think that in a day and age where multiple navigation apps are available for your phone that it would be hard to get lost. You should always know where...

 June 29, 2023 Today's Reading: Matthew 16:13-20 Daily Lectionary: Proverbs 9:1-18 , John 13:21-38 “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18 ESV) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Our reading allows us to draw a straight line from Peter, to Luther, and then to Lutherans.  Peter confessed Christ, Luther c...

June 28, 2023 Today's Reading: Table of Duties, Luther’s Small Catechism: First Article Part 3 Daily Lectionary: Proverb 8:22-36 , John 13:1-20  All this He does only out of fatherly, divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness in me. For all this it is my duty to thank and praise, serve and obey Him. This is most certainly true.  In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.  When it comes to the...

June 27, 2023 Today's Reading: Romans 6:12-23 Daily Lectionary: Proverbs 8:1-21 , John 12:36b-50 “But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.” (Romans 6:17–18 ESV) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. One of the common storyte...

June 26, 2023 Today's Reading:   Jeremiah 20:7-13 Daily Lectionary: Proverbs 5:1-23 , John 12:20-36a “Sing to the LORD; praise the LORD! For he has delivered the life of the needy from the hand of evildoers.” (Jeremiah 20:13 ESV) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Do you ever feel like Lutheranism has given you a raw deal? Do you think that being part of the people of God is not all that it is cracked...

June 25, 2023 Today's Reading: Matthew 10:5a, 21-33 Daily Lectionary: Proverbs 4:1-27 , John 12:1-19 “So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.” (Matthew 10:26 ESV) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Christianity is not so much about what you know as it is about what you believe. This does not mean that you have to check your brain at t...

June 24, 2023 Today's Reading: Luke 1:57-80 Daily Lectionary: Proverbs 3:5-24 , John 11:38-57 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare His ways. (Luke 1:76) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Usually, Luke 1 and 2 are reserved for Advent and Christmas. Many of you who read this can still remember being in Christmas programs at church when t...

June 23, 2023 Today's Reading: John 11:17-37 Daily Lectionary: Proverbs 1:8-33 , John 11:17-37 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.”(John 11:25-26a) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Jesus is in the resurrection business. Let that sink in for a minute. Martha had stom...

June 22, 2023 Today's Reading: John 11:1-16 Daily Lectionary: Ecclesiastes 12:1-14 , John 11:1-16 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” (John 11:9-10) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Do me a favor: re-read John 11...

June 21, 2023 Today's Reading: Table of Duties, Luther’s Small Catechism: First Article Part 2 Daily Lectionary: Ecclesiastes 11:1-10 , John 10:22-42 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. (Matthew 6:26) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Is that all? I know, I know…if you’ve read through Part 1 of Luther’s Small Catechism...

June 20, 2023 Today's Reading: Romans 5:6-15 Daily Lectionary: Ecclesiastes 10:1-20 , John 10:1-21 “For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.” (Romans 5:6) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Timing is everything. I don’t know how those three words make you feel. But, in one way or another, they’re the absolute truth. Think of all of the things that have happened in yo...

June 19, 2023 Today's Reading:   Exodus 19:2-8 Daily Lectionary: Ecclesiastes 9:1-17 , John 9:24-41 “‘You shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.” (Exodus 19:6) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Our family loves camping. There’s something about the great outdoors, enjoying the beauty of creation, unplugging from responsi...

June 18, 2023 Today's Reading: Matthew 9:35-10:20 Daily Lectionary: Ecclesiastes 8:1-17 , John 9:1-23 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” (Matthew 9:37-38) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Our Gospel lesson this week unfolds in the most beautiful fashion. Jesu...

June 17, 2023 Today's Reading: Introit for Pentecost 3: Psalm 67:4-7, antiphon: 67:3 Daily Lectionary: Ecclesiastes 7:11-29 , John 8:39-59 ; antiphon: Psalm 67:3 Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for You judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth. (Psalm 67:4) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. “Judge not, lest you be judged.” I’ll never forget the first time these words wer...

June 16, 2023 Today's Reading: Romans 4:13-25 Daily Lectionary: Ecclesiastes 6:1-7:10, John 8:21-38 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” (Romans 4:3) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Paul’s life was forever changed when, on the road to Damascus, on his mission to imprison followers of Jesus, He met Jesus Himself. Paul was struck blind, b...

June 15, 2023 Today's Reading: Table of Duties, Luther’s Small Catechism: First Article Part 1 Daily Lectionary: Ecclesiastes 5:1-20 , John 9:1-23 “Of old You laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands.” (Psalm 102:25) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Father’s Day is right around the corner, and if your dad is anything like my kids’ dad, a good Father’s Day might con...

June 14, 2023 Today's Reading: Psalm 50:1, 7-15 Daily Lectionary: Ecclesiastes 4:1-16 , John 7:32-53 “Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.”  (Psalm 50:15) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Have you ever struggled to find a gift to give someone? Sometimes, picking just the right thing can be a challenge, it might even feel impossible. What do you buy for the...

June 13, 2023 Today's Reading: Hosea 5:15-6:6 Daily Lectionary: Ecclesiastes 3:1-22 , John 7:14-31 “Come, let us return to the Lord; for He has torn us, that He may heal us; He has struck us down, and He will bind us up.” (Hosea 6:1) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Some lessons are harder to learn than others. I’m sure that comes as no surprise to you. In school, some subjects will be easier than ot...