Reflections

March 16,  2023 Today's Reading:   Daily Lectionary: Gen 39:1-23 Genesis 39:23: “The keeper of the prison paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph’s charge, because the LORD was with him. And whatever he did, the LORD made it succeed.” In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Whatever Joseph did, the Lord made it succeed. Joseph, of course, being the guy wrongfully imprisoned. But, like, really succe...

March 15,  2023 Today's Reading:   Luther’s Small Catechism – Ten Commandments: First Commandment Daily Lectionary: Gen 37:1-36 , Mark 10:1-12 We should fear, love, and trust in God above all things In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Idols are good things. The money you love more than God isn’t evil. The love of it is. The people we value more than God are the neighbors He gave you. The power you trust...

March 14,  2023 Today's Reading:  Romans 5:1-18 Daily Lectionary: Gen 35:1-29 , Mark 9:33-50 Romans 5:8: “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Spiritual warfare is easier when it’s us against the devil, but I am a sinner.  The problem is me. It’s the devil who would have you think the only enemies are outside of yours...

March 13,  2023 Today's Reading:   Ex. 17:1-7 Daily Lectionary: Gen. 29:1-30 , Mark 9:14-32 Exodus 17:7: “And he called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the quarreling of the people of Israel, and because they tested the LORD by saying, “Is the LORD among us or not?”” In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Moses is tired of the people complaining and fighting.  So the Lord tells him to...

March 12,  2023 Today's Reading:   John 4:5-26 Daily Lectionary: Gen 27:30-45, 28:10-22 , Mark 9:1-13 John 4:10: “Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”” In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. This lady’s a sinner.  She has to work herself up every time she goes out in pub...

March 11, 2023  Today's Reading: Introit for Lent 3 Ps. 84:1-4 ; antiphon: Ps. 84:5   Daily Lectionary: Gen 27:1-29 , Mark 8:22-38   How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts! My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the LORD; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God. (From the Introit for the Third Sunday in Lent)  In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Churches come in all shapes an...

March 10, 2023  Today's Reading:  Daily Lectionary: Gen 24:32-52, 61-67 , Mark 8:1-21  And they began discussing with one another the fact that they had no bread. And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not...

March 9, 2023  Today's Reading:  Daily Lectionary: Gen 24:1-31 , Mark 7:24-37   And taking him aside from the crowd privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and after spitting touched his tongue. And looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. And Jesus charged them to tell no one....

March 8, 2023  Today's Reading:   Luther’s Small Catechism - Table of Duties: To Everyone  Daily Lectionary: Gen 22:1-19 , Mark 7:1-23   For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Romans 13:9)  In the Name + of Jesus. Amen....

March 7, 2023  Today's Reading:   Romans 4:1-8, 13-17  Daily Lectionary: Gen. 21:1-21 , Mark 6:35-56   For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. (Romans 4:13)  In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Yesterday, we looked at how Abraham was blessed by God through a promise that he would father a great n...

March 6, 2023  Today's Reading: Gen. 12:1-9  Daily Lectionary: Gen. 18:1-15 , Mark 6:14-34  Now the LORD said to Abram…“I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Genesis 12:1-3)  In the Name +...

March 5, 2023  Today's Reading: John 3:1-7   Daily Lectionary: Gen. 16:1-9, 15:17-22 , Mark 6:1-13  Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” (St. John 3:1–2)  In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Remembe...

March 4, 2023  Today's Reading: Introit for Lent 2, Ps. 105:4-7 ; antiphon: Ps. 105:8   Daily Lectionary: Gen. 15:1-21 , Mark 5:21-43 He remembers his covenant forever, the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations. (From the Introit for the Second Sunday in Lent)  In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. God always remembers, even when we forget. That can seem terrifying, can’t it? God our Father w...

March 3, 2023  Today's Reading:  Daily Lectionary: Gen. 13:1-18 , Mark 5:1-20  As (Jesus) was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him. And he did not permit him but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” And he went away and began to proclaim in the Deca...

March 2, 2023  Today's Reading:  Daily Lectionary: Gen. 11:27-12:20 , Mark 4:1-20  “Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path…Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil…Other seed fell among thorns…And other seeds fell into good soil and produced grain…” (St. Mark 4:3-8)  In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. This Gospel text tends to cau...

March 1, 2023  Today's Reading: Luther’s Small Catechism - Table of Duties To: Widows Daily Lectionary: Gen. 8:13-9:17 , Mark 3:20-35   She who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day, but she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives. (1 Timothy 5:5-6)  In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. For the last few centuries, the...

February 28, 2023  Today's Reading: Romans 5:12-19  Daily Lectionary: Gen. 7:11-8:12 , Mark 3:20-35  Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. (Romans 5:18–19)  In the Name + of Jes...

February 27, 2023  Today's Reading: Gen. 3:1-21  Daily Lectionary: Gen. 6:1-7:5 , Mark 3:1-19  By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” (Genesis 3:19)  In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Last Wednesday was a stark reminder of our future, wasn’t it? “Remember that you are dust, and to dust...

February 26, 2023  Today's Reading: Matt. 4:1-11  Daily Lectionary: Gen. 4:1-26 , Mark 2:18-28  The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (St. Matthew 4:3-4)  In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The meaning of the...

February 25, 2023   Today's Reading: Introit for Lent 1, Ps. 91:9-13 ; antiphon: Ps. 91:15-16 Daily Lectionary: Job 20:1-23, 29 , John 8:21-38   You will tread on the lion and the adder; the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot. (Ps. 91:13)   In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. If I were to ask you to list five words that come to mind when you hear “Lent,” I doubt that ‘victory’ would b...

February 24, 2023   Today's Reading:   Matt. 11:25-30 Daily Lectionary: Job 19:1-12, 21-27 , John 8:1-20   “Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)   In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Sometimes older congregations will compile a history book, which will include the unique contributions of each of their pastors. Maybe one started a school outreach. Anot...

February 23, 2023   Today's Reading: Joel 2:12-19 Daily Lectionary: Job 18:1-21 , John 7:32-53   Who knows whether he will not turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind him, a grain offering and a drink offering for the Lord your God? (Joel 2:14)   In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. When do you go to the doctor? Of course, it’s when you’re sick. Nobody in their right mind goes through the trouble of...

February 22, 2023   Today's Reading: Matt. 6:1-6, 16-21 Daily Lectionary: Job 16:1-22 , John 7:1-13   And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. (Matt. 6:4)   In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” [Genesis 3:19] This is a spiritual truth, which we need as Christians living out of our faith. Without this reminder, our “practice” of Christ...

February 21, 2023   Today's Reading: 2 Peter 1:16-21 Daily Lectionary: Job 16:1-22 , John 7:1-13   “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation” (2 Pet. 1:20 NKJV)   In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. One of the major tenets of the Reformation is Sola Scriptura , Scripture Alone. But what does that look like in practice? Originally, it was said against the papacy,...

February 20, 2023   Today's Reading: Ex. 24:8-18 Daily Lectionary: Job 15:1-23, 30-35, John 6:60-71   “Moses went up into the mountain of God.” (Exodus 24:13)   In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. When God gave the Law to the people at Mount Sinai, there were three distinctions for how close one got to the Lord: The blood-sprinkled people; Moses, with the priests and the 70 elders; Moses in the mountain...