Reflections

Today's Reading: 1 Cor. 2:1-16 Daily Lectionary: Job 4:1-21 , John 2:1-12 Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. (1 Cor. 2:6) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Would you like to level up your Christianity?  What would you say if I told you there was some “secret and hidden wisdom from God”?  All you h...

Today's Reading:   Isaiah 58:3-9a Daily Lectionary: Job 3:11 , John 1:35-51   “Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’” (Isaiah 58:8-9a) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. W...

Today's Reading: Matthew 5:13-20 Daily Lectionary: Job 2:1 , John 1:19-34   “You are the salt of the earth…You are the light of the world” (Matt. 5:13, 14)   In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Anchovies. Love ‘em or hate ‘em, they give us a clue into what Jesus is saying: Salt is a preservative. It keeps meat from decaying into stench and worms.  So, Jesus compares us to salt for the earth—a preservati...

Today's Reading:  Luke 2:22-32 Daily Lectionary: Zech. 14:1-21 , Titus 2:7-3:15 “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word… (Luke 2:29) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Yesterday the Church celebrated the Presentation of Jesus (Luke 2:22-32). We heard about Simeon who  came to  the temple  to see Jesus. The Holy Spirit had promised Simeon he would see the Messiah...

Today's Reading: Purification of Mary and Presentation of Our Lord Luke 2:22-32 Daily Lectionary: Zech. 12:1-13:9 , Titus 1:1-2:6 …as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord” (Luke 2:23) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. On this day, 40 days after Christmas, Mary and Joseph took baby Jesus from Bethlehem to the temple in Jerusalem to...

Today's Reading:   Luther’s Small Catechism - To Workers of All Kinds Daily Lectionary: Zech. 11:4-17 , 2 Timothy 4:1-18 Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ… (Ephesians 6:5) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. In the season of Epiphany, we celebrate that the light of Christ shines forth into darkness. God uses our work, including our...

Today's Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 Daily Lectionary: Zech. 10:1-11:3 , 2 Timothy 3:1-17 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.   (1 Corinthians 1:22-24) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. In the season of Epiphany,...

Today's Reading: Micah 6:1-8 Daily Lectionary: Zech. 9:1-17 , 2 Timothy 2:1-26 “Hear what the LORD says: … “O my people, what have I done to you? How have I wearied you? Answer me!”  (Micah 1a, 3) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. In Epiphany, we celebrate that the light of Christ shines forth into the world, proclaiming the truth of His word —that people are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Chri...

Today's Reading: Matthew 5:1-12 Daily Lectionary: Zech. 8:1-23 , 2 Timothy 1:1-18 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:3) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. During Epiphany we celebrate that the light of Christ shines forth to people in need of His grace and mercy. In our reading today, crowds of people were following Jesus to hear Him speak, so He led them t...

Today's Reading: Introit for Epiphany 4, Ps. 22:27-31 ; antiphon: Ps. 22:22 Daily Lectionary: Zech. 6:1-7:14 , Romans 16:17-27 I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you… (Psalm 22:22) Today, our reading is the last section of Psalm 22. It speaks of the power and glory of Christ Jesus. We glorify Him who conquered sin and death by His crucifixion an...

Today's Reading: Luther’s Small Catechism - Table of Duties: To Children   Daily Lectionary: Zech. 4:1-5:11 , Romans 15:14-33 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.  “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” (Ephesians 6:1-3) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Today we hear f...

Today's Reading: Luke 10:1-9 Daily Lectionary: Zech. 2:1-3:10 , Romans 15:1-13 Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. (Luke 10:3) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Through these last three days, the Church gives thanks to God for the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We’ve already praised God for the work He did through St. Timothy. We praised God for bringin...

Today's Reading: Acts 9:1-22 Daily Lectionary: Zech. 1:1-21 , Romans 14:1-23 Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him.  And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”  (Acts 9:3,4) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. During Epiphany we celebrate that the light of Christ shines to people who...

Today's Reading:   Matthew 24:42-47 Daily Lectionary: Joel 3:1-21 , Romans 12:14-13:14 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time?   Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.” (Matthew 24:45,46) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. After Jesus rose from the dead, the apostles went out i...

Today's Reading:   Isaiah 9:1-4 Daily Lectionary: Joel 2:18-32 , Romans 11:25-12:13 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,on them has light shone. (Isaiah 9:2b) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. When Isaiah wrote this, the Northern Kingdom of Israel had been invaded. God punished Israel for their sin and rebellion against Him by raising u...

Today's Reading: Matthew 4:12-25 Daily Lectionary: Joel 2:1-17 , Romans 11:1-24 “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matthew 4:19) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. During the season of Epiphany, we rejoice that the light of Christ shines to people who are in darkness. When Jesus began His earthly ministry, He went about Galilee preaching, teaching, and healing. The people who heard Him w...

Today's Reading: Introit for the Third Sunday after the Epiphany Daily Lectionary: Joel 1:1-20; Romans 10:1-21 I will tell of your name to my brothers;  in the midst of the congregation I will praise you. All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD,  and all the families of the nations shall worship before you. For kingship belongs to the LORD,  and he rules over the nations. All...

Daily Lectionary: Ezekiel 47:1-14, 21-23 ; Romans 9:19-33 As I went back, I saw on the bank of the river very many trees on the one side and on the other.  And he said to me, “This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, and enters the sea; when the water flows into the sea, the water will become fresh.  And wherever the river goes, every living creature that swarms wi...

Today's Reading: Table of Duties:To Parents Daily Lectionary: Ezekiel 44:1-16, 23-29 ; Romans 9:1-18 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:4) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. When Holy Scripture addresses parents, this is not just parenting advice.  If you want a book to make you a better parent, there are whole s...

Today's Reading: Mark 8:27-9:1 Daily Lectionary: Ezekiel 40:1-4; 43:1-12 ; Romans 8:18-39 And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.” (Mark 8:29) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Text of the Reflection.  “Who is Jesus?” is the question that runs through all the readings this week, starting with John the Baptist’s identification of Jesus as the Lamb of...

Today's Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 Daily Lectionary: Ezekiel 39:1-10, 17-29 ; Romans 7:21-8:17 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. (1 Corinthians 1:9) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. During His earthly ministry, Jesus called disciples including Simon and Andrew.  John tells us how Jesus called himself and his brother James from fishing wi...

Today's Reading: Isaiah 49:1-7 Daily Lectionary: Ezekiel 38:1-23 ; Romans 7:1-20 he says: “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant     to raise up the tribes of Jacob     and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations,     that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” (Isaiah 49:6) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. In the second “servant son...

Today's Reading: John 1:29-42a Daily Lectionary: Ezekiel 37:15-28 ; Romans 6:1-23 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.” (John 1:34) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Who is Jesus?  The answer to this question changes everything.  In the reading today, it changes everything for Simon and Andrew, just like it changes everything for John the Baptist.  If Jesus is the Lamb o...

Today's Reading: Introit for the Second Sunday after the Epiphany Daily Lectionary: Ezekiel 36:33-37:14 ; Romans 5:1-21 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight,  O LORD, my rock and my redeemer. The heavens declare the glory of God,  and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech,  and night to night reveals knowledge. There is n...

Daily Lectionary: Ezekiel 36:13-28 ; Romans 4:1-25 No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God,  fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.  That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.”  (Romans 4:20-22) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Abraham was a man of faith.  God gave Abraham a promise, and...