Reflections

June 12, 2023 Today's Reading: Matt. 9:9-13 Daily Lectionary: Ecclesiastes 2:1-26 , John 7:1-13 Jesus said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Matthew 9:12-13) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Have you ever  played the game, Follow the Leader? If yo...

June 11, 2023 Today's Reading: Mark 6:7-13   Daily Lectionary: Ecclesiastes 1:1-18 , John 6:60-71 And [Jesus] called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits.  (Mark 6:7) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Everyone needs a Barnabas. No, I don’t mean to say that your life is somehow incomplete if you don’t have a friend who goes by “Barney.” Toda...

June 10, 2023 Today's Reading: Introit to Pentecost 2: Psalm 50:7-10 ; antiphon: Psalm 50:1 Daily Lectionary: Song of Solomon 7:6-8:14 , John 6:41-59   The Mighty One, God the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting. (Psalm 50:1) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. When I am at a stop light, I can yell all I want for the traffic signal to change from red to green, bu...

June 9, 2023 Today's Reading:  Daily Lectionary: Song of Solomon 6:4-7:5 , John 6:22-40 I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. (John 6:35) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. C.S. Lewis once observed that, “God likes matter; after all, He created it.” We see this truth throughout Scripture as well. Time and time again, God takes the s...

June 8, 2023 Today's Reading:  Daily Lectionary: Song of Solomon 5:2-6:3 , John 6:1-21   Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?”  (John 6:5) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. When we pray in the Lord’s Prayer, “Give us this day our daily bread,” we are reminded that throughout the S...

June 7, 2023 Today's Reading: Table of Duties, Luther’s Small Catechism: The Close of the Commandments Daily Lectionary: Song of Solomon 4:1-5:1 , John 5:30-47  What does God say about all these commandments? He says, “I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of their fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate Me,  but showing love to a thousand...

June 6, 2023 Today's Reading: Acts 2:14a, 22-36 Daily Lectionary: Song of Solomon 2:8-3:11 , John 5:19-29   He foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption.  (Acts 2:31) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. When Jesus met two of His disciples on the Emmaus road after His resurrection, He taught them how to read the Old Testam...

June 5, 2023 Today's Reading: Genesis 1:1-2:4a Daily Lectionary:   Song of Solomon 1:1-2:7 , John 5:1-18 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. (Genesis 1:1-2) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Ever wondered where in the Old Testament you he...

June 4, 2023 Today's Reading: Matthew 28:16-20 Daily Lectionary: Numbers 35:9-30 , Luke 24:28-53  “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” (Matthew 28:19) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Stay on the path. That’s one of the most basic rules of hiking. Those are also wise words for Trinity Sunday, a day when we ce...

June 3, 2023 Today's Reading: Introit for Holy Trinity Psalm 16:8 ; antiphon: Liturgical Text Daily Lectionary: Numbers 32:1-6,16-27, Luke 24:1-27 Blessed be the Holy Trinity and the undivided unity; let us give glory to Him because He has shown us mercy.  (Liturgical Text) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. I don’t know about you, but I enjoy a good mystery. Solving a riddle. Reading Sherlock Holmes....

June 2, 2023 Today's Reading: Acts 2:1-21 Daily Lectionary: Numbers 27:12-23 , Luke 23:26-56 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Acts 2:21) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. In Exodus 20:24, when God instructed Moses to build the tabernacle, He promised, “In every place where I cause my name to be remembered I will come to you and I will bless y...

June 1, 2023 Today's Reading:  Daily Lectionary: Numbers 24:1-25 , Luke 23:1-25 But they all cried out together, “Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas”—   a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city and for murder.  (Luke 23:18-19) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. When we hear the word martyr, the first thing that most likely comes to mind is a Christian wh...

May 31, 2023 Today's Reading: Table of Duties Luther’s Small Catechism: Tenth Commandment Daily Lectionary: Numbers 23:4-28 , Luke 22:47-71 We should fear and love God so that we do not entice or force away our neighbor’s wife, workers, or animals, or turn them against him, but urge them to stay and do their duty. (Explanation to the Tenth Commandment) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. God is the God...

May 30, 2023 Today's Reading: John 10:1-10 Daily Lectionary: Numbers 22:21-23 , Luke 22:24-46 The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.  (John 10:3-4) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Where do you go to hear God’s voice? Some would direct you inward to yo...

May 29, 2023 Today's Reading: John 3:16-21 Daily Lectionary: Numbers 22:1-20 , Luke 22:1-23 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. (John 3:17) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. It’s a safe guess that most of us know John 3:16. It rolls off the tongue easily. It’s memorable for and memorized by many. It’s a great summary...

May 28, 2023 Today's Reading: John 7:37-39 Daily Lectionary: Numbers 21:10-35 , Luke 22:1-23 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” (John 7:38) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. There are certain things in life that are meant to go together, a peanut butter and jelly sandwich or bacon and, well, just about anything. And if this is true...

May 27, 2023 Today's Reading: John 14:15-21 Daily Lectionary: Numbers 20:22-21:9 , Luke 20:45-21:19 John 14:15: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Jesus said, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my commandments”.  Faith, of course, is presupposed.  I guess that’s good…we assume Christians believe.  But also, when we take faith for granted, all that’s really...

May 26, 2023 Today's Reading:   Luke 20:19-44 Daily Lectionary: Numbers 20:1-21 , Luke 20:19-44 Luke 20:25: He said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Do you think stamping Caesar’s face on a coin makes it not God’s anymore? It isn’t just whether or not this is God’s coin. It’s whether or not this is Go...

May 25, 2023 Today's Reading:   Luke 20:1-18 Daily Lectionary: Numbers 16:41-17:13 , Luke 20:1-18 Luke 20:4: “was the baptism of John from heaven or from man?”” In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Who is running the verbs?  Who is doing the thing? It changes baptism. Not just because the Pharisees were afraid of upsetting the crowds, but because if all we have is a bath of good intentions, the waters ne...

May 24, 2023 Today's Reading: Luther’s Small Catechism Ten Commandments: The Ninth Commandment Daily Lectionary: Numbers 16:23-40 , Luke 19:29-48 You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.  In mercy, God will even guard your heart.  There’s already a commandment about not taking what’s yours.  You shall not steal.  You shall help your neighbor improve and protect his...

May 23, 2023 Today's Reading: 1 Peter 4:12-19, 5:6-11 Daily Lectionary: Numbers 16:1-22, Luke 19:11-28 1 Peter 4:13: “But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.” In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Peter calls suffering a blessing.  I wish he wouldn’t.  It isn’t just how much it hurts.  It’s the question of why.  Because a lovi...

May 22, 2023 Today's Reading: Acts 1:12-26 Daily Lectionary: Numbers 14:26-45 , Luke 18:35-19:10 Acts 1:16: ““Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus.” In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. What do you say at the funeral of a friend? Judas was numbered with them. Spent 3 years...

 May 21, 2023 Today's Reading: John 17:1-11 Daily Lectionary: Numbers 14:1-25 , Luke 18:18-34 John 17:11: “And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.” In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Why does it feel so good to lament the decline of civilization? It seems l...

May 20, 2023   Today's Reading: Psalm 100:1-5 ; antiphon: Psalm 101:1 Daily Lectionary: Numbers 13:1-3, 17-33 ; Luke 18:1-17 “Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!” (Psalm 100:1-2)   In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The Holy Spirit has gifted some with amazing musical talent, which they employ in service to God’s Word. Think...

May 19, 2023   Today's Reading:   Numbers 11:24-29, 12:1-16 Daily Lectionary: Numbers 11:24-29, 12:1-16 ; Luke 17:20-37 “Hear my words: If there is a prophet among you, I the Lord make myself known to him” (Numbers 12:6)   In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. There was a problem with Moses: He couldn’t do it all. Today, we would have said Moses was close to burnout. There needed to be others to share the...