Reflections

July 17, 2023 Today's Reading: Isaiah 55:10-13 Daily Lectionary: Joshua 4:1-24 ,  In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. You’ve all seen rain and snow fall down from the sky.  You’ve also probably studied the natural water cycle in science class as well.  In our reading from Isaiah we can easily picture the Word of God like rain or snow, falling down to water things and produce good crops.  Isaiah is not j...

July 16, 2023 Today's Reading: Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 Daily Lectionary: Joshua 3:1-17 , Acts 9:1-22 “Behold, a sower went out to sow.”  Matthew 13:3b In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. Let's start off right away by saying these parables are not about you.  They are not about you  and your role in them or anything else that is about you and what you can do for Jesus.  Don’t ev...

July 15, 2023 Today's Reading: Introit to Pentecost 7: Psalm 103:15-19 ; antiphon: Psalm 103:8 Daily Lectionary: Joshua 2:1-24 , Acts 8:26-40 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. Psalm 103:8 In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Today’s text from Psalm 103 is what I typically call a “commercial passage” of Scripture. What I mean by this is that we typically see...

July 14, 2023 Today's Reading:  Daily Lectionary: Joshua 1:1-18 , Acts 8:1-25 No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.  Joshua 1:5 In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Our English Bibles don't lead us down the path of understanding what's going on in the Old Testament and how it is connected to...

July 13, 2023 Today's Reading:  Daily Lectionary: Proverbs 31:10-31 , John 21:1-25 Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The Gospels speak about two charcoal fires that have some pretty significant meaning.  As Jesus is being put on trial Peter is warming himself by a charcoal fire in the courtyard.  It...

July 12, 2023 Today's Reading: Luther’s Small Catechism, Apostle’s Creed: Second Article Part 2 Daily Lectionary: Proverbs 30:1-9, 18-33 , John 20:19-31 “purchased and won me from all sins, from death and the power of the devil; not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood, and with His inno­cent suffering and death.” In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The Christian God speaks of the crea...

July 11, 2023 Today's Reading: Romans 7:14-25a Daily Lectionary: Proverbs 27:1-24 , John 20:1-18 “For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.”  Romans 7:15 In the Name of Jesus, Amen. I’m sure you are like most people who hear the word “sin” you think of the things you have done. In our reading today, Paul does mention the sins he hates, but he also says the power of sin, which is...

July 10, 2023 Today's Reading: Zechariah 9:9-12 Daily Lectionary: Proverbs 25:1-22 , John 19:23-42 “Return to the stronghold, You prisoners of hope. Even today I declare That I will restore double to you.” In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. What a weird statement from Zechariah today, “prisoners of hope”.  What does it mean to be a prisoner of hope? Remember that the people of Israel had been in the ha...

July 9, 2023 Today's Reading: Matthew 11:25-30   Daily Lectionary: Proverbs 24:1-22 , John 19:1-22 “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.” In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Have you ever felt completely overwhelmed by all that is thrown at you?  Family, school, friends, social media trends,  or other things.  What about being overwhelmed with how God might view you a...

July 8, 2023 Today's Reading: Introit for Pentecost 6: Psalm 91:2, 9-10 ; antiphon Psalm 91:1 Daily Lectionary: Proverbs 22:22-28:12 , John 18:15-40 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust. (Psalm 91:1–2 ESV) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. You live in occupied territory. You...

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...