Reflections

May 4, 2023 Today's Reading:   1 Peter 2:19-25 Daily Lectionary: Leviticus 17:1-16 ; Luke 10:23-42 For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been cal...

May 3, 2023 Today's Reading:  Luther’s Small Catechism Table of Duties: Sixth Commandment Daily Lectionary: Leviticus 16:1-24 ; Luke 10:1-22 The Sixth Commandment:  You shall not commit adultery.  What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we lead a sexually pure and decent life in what we say and do, and husband and wife love and honor each other.  In the Name + of Jesus. After read...

May 2, 2023 Today's Reading:  Acts 2:42-47   Daily Lectionary: Leviticus 10:1-20 ; Luke 9:37-62 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. (Acts 2:46–47 ESV) In the Name + of Jesus....

May 1, 2023 Today's Reading:   John 14:1-14 Daily Lectionary: Leviticus 9:1-24 ; Luke 9:37-62 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?” (John 14:8–9 ESV) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. If our reading w...

April 30, 2023 Today's Reading:   John 10:1-10 Daily Lectionary: Leviticus 8:1-13,30-36 , Luke 9:1-17 “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.” (John 10:9 ESV) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.  All this language of shepherds and sheep has led to some interesting places in the history of the church.  This is especially true in the theology of mi...

April 29, 2023 Today's Reading:   Psalm 95:1-3, 6-7a ; antiphon: John 10:14, 15b Daily Lectionary: Exodus 40:17-38 , Luke 8:40-56 “I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, and I lay down my life for the sheep.” (John 10:14–15b ESV) In the Name + of Jesus.  Amen. In our time and our place, we have become so used to the language of Jesus as the Good Shepherd that we don’t even reall...

April 28, 2023 Today's Reading:   Daily Lectionary: Exodus 39:32-40:16 , Luke 8:22-39 “He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?”” (Luke 8:25 ESV) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The identity of Jesus can be a confusing thing.  In our reading for today the demons...

April 27, 2023 Today's Reading: 1 Peter 1:17-25 Daily Lectio nary: Exodus 38:21-39:8, 22-23, 27-31 , Luke 8:1-21 “for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you.” (1 Peter 1:24–25 ESV) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. You live in exile....

April 26, 2023 Today's Reading: Luther's Small Catechism, Table of Duties : Fifth Commandment Daily Lectionary: Exodus 34:29-35:21 , Luke 7:36-50 The Fifth Commandment.:  You shall not murder.  What does this mean?  We should fear and love God so that we do not hurt or harm our neighbor in his body, but help and support him in every physical need.  In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. At first glance thi...

April 25, 2023 Today's Reading: Luke 10:1-9 Daily Lectionary: Exodus 34:1-28 , Luke 17:18-35 “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. Mark would have been a terrible televangelist. Those guys for the most part promise you a successful stress free middle class life with an attractive spouse, well behaved children, and a t...

April 24, 2023 Today's Reading:   Acts 2:14a, 36-41 Daily Lectionary: Exodus 33:1-23 . Luke 7:1-17 “And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himse...

April 23, 2023 Today's Reading: Luke 24:13-35 Daily Lectionary: Exodus 32:15-35 , Luke 6:39-49 “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.” (Luke 24:27 ESV) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. There are any number of Christians that will tell you that the Bible is the Word of God. They take what it says seriously and want to...

April 22, 2023 Today's Reading: Psalm 84:1-4 ; antiphon: Psalm 84:5 Daily Lectionary: Exodus 32:1-14 , Luke 6:20-38 Blessed are those who dwell in your house,ever singing your praise!  Psalm 84:4 In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Christ is risen! In the Old Testament, the children of Israel were very familiar with where God was located.   Psalm 84 celebrates the temple of God in Jerusalem. It begins,...

April 21, 2023 Today's Reading: John 14:18-24 Daily Lectionary: Exodus 31:1-18 , Luke 6:1-19  “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” Christ is Risen“John 14:18   In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Amid a world of death and decay, it is straightforward to feel alone, lost and abandoned. The world doesn’t have an answer for death, so many want to celebrate the life lived in the valley of...

April 20, 2023 Today's Reading: Luke 5:17-39 Daily Lectionary: Exodus 25:1-22 , Luke 5:17-39 Quotation for the Reflection (citation) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Christ is risen! The church, at all times, has longed to have new members joining the Body of Christ.  Who doesn’t love to see the church grow?  It used to be that the church would evangelize through works of mercy and care for anyone in...

April 19, 2023 Today's Reading: Luther's Small Catechism Table of Duties : The Fourth Commandment Daily Lectionary: Exodus 24:1-18 , Luke 5:1-16 “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first com­mandment with a promise: “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.” Ephesians 6:1-3.”  Luther’s Table of Duties - t...

April 18, 2023 Today's Reading:   1 Peter 1:3-9   Daily Lectionary: Exodus 23:14-33 , Luke 4:31-44 1Peter 1:3   Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead”.  In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.  Christ is risen! I love birthdays, especially when it's the bi...

April 17, 2023 Today's Reading: Acts 5:29-42 Daily Lectionary: Exodus 22:20-23:13 , Luke 4:16-30  “But Peter and the apostles answered, ‘We must obey God rather than men.’” - Acts 5:29 In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Christ is risen! We hear quite a bit during the season from the book of Acts. On the second Sunday of Easter, Acts 5 speaks to us about the cost of confessing Christ. Peter and the apos...

April 16, 2023 Today's Reading: John 20:19-31 Daily Lectionary: Exodus 20:1-24 Luke 4:1-15 “Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so, I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”  John 20:2...

April 15, 2023 Today's Reading: Ps. 105:4-7 ; antiphon: Ps. 105:8 Daily Lectionary: Ex 19:1-25 , Heb 13:1-21 Remember the wondrous works that he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he uttered,  Psalm 105:5. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Christ is risen! An old saying says, “those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it.”  This statement is typically used to remind us of our past failures...

April 14, 2023 Today's Reading: Acts 10:34-43 Daily Lectionary: Ex 18:5-27 , Heb 12:1-24  “So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality”  Acts 10:34 In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Christ is risen! Inclusion is a trendy word today and is constantly shoved in front of our faces.  There is nothing wrong with inclusivity, but the world’s views often seem one-side...

April 13, 2023 Today's Reading: Jeremiah 31:1-6 Daily Lectionary: Ex 17:1-16 , Heb 11:1-29 At that time, declares the LORD, I will be the God of all the clans of Israel, and they shall be my people.” Jeremiah 31:1 In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Christ is risen!  We live and die by time. Whether getting up in time for school or getting to work on time, we have a clock on our wrists, phones, or compu...

April 13, 2023 Today's Reading: Jeremiah 31:1-6 Daily Lectionary: Exodus 17:1-16 , Hebrews 11:1-29 At that time, declares the LORD, I will be the God of all the clans of Israel, and they shall be my people.” Jeremiah 31:1 In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Christ is risen!  We live and die by time. Whether getting up in time for school or getting to work on time, we have a clock on our wrists, phones,...

April 12, 2023 Today's Reading: John 21:1-14 Daily Lectionary: Ex 16:13-35 , Heb 10:19-39 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Christ is Risen! Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went...

April 11, 2023 Today's Reading: Luke 24:36-49 Daily Lectionary: Ex 15:19-16:12 , Heb 10:1-18 “Have you anything here to eat?” Luke 24:40 In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.   Christ is risen! If you ever attend a funeral at a church and the pastor doesn’t preach on the physical Resurrection of Jesus and the promise of the same resurrection of the deceased, you’ve been cheated.  Jesus points to this impo...