Reflections

Today's Reading:   Isaiah 11:1-10 Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 11:1-12:6 ; 2 Peter 2:1-22 “He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear, but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth…” ( Isaiah 11:3b-4a ) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. As we prepare for the Nativity of Jesus, as we prepare for the celebration of our...

Today's Reading: Matthew 3:1-12 Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 10:12-27, 33-34 ; 2 Peter 1:1-21 “For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.’” ( Matthew 3:3 ) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. On the Second Sunday in Advent, we meet an Old Testament carryover in John the Baptist. John’...

Today's Reading: Introit: Psalm 105:4–8; antiphon : Isaiah 40:3b Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 9:8-10:11 ; 1 Peter 5:1-14 “Remember the wondrous works that he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he uttered… He remembers his covenant forever, the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations.” (Psalm 105 ) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. I promise. Have you ever said those words before? Did you...

Today's Reading:   Romans 13:8-14 Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 8:9-9:7 ; 1 Peter 4:1-19 “Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed.” ( Romans 13:11 ) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The Apostle Paul gives a great summary of the Second Table of the Law and how one loves their neighbor. This isn’t the ea...

Today's Reading: Small Catechism, Table of Duties: To Bishops, Pastors, Preachers Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 7:10-8:8 ; 1 Peter 3:1-22 “He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.” - Titus 1:9 (Table of Duties: To Bishops, Pastors, Preachers) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Do you know why your...

Today's Reading: John 1:35-42a Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 6:1-7:9 ; 1 Peter 2:13-25 “[Andrew] first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ).” ( John 1:41 ) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. John has an early encounter with two of his disciples and Jesus. John confesses, not only to the disciples but to all, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” With such a grea...

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 5:1-25 ; 1 Peter 2:1-12 “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!” ( Isaiah 5:20 ) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Do you know the difference between good and evil? What’s the definition of good? What’s the definition of evil? Who decided what is good and what is evil? Tho...

Today's Reading : Isaiah 2:1-5   Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 2:1-22 ; 1 Peter 1:13-25 “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” ( Isaiah 2:3 ) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. It’s that time of the year, the Church Year, that is. It’s that time to reflect upon the Advent, the coming of our Lord Jes...

Today's Reading: Matthew 23:36-4 ; Introit Psalm 118:25–28; antiphon: Zechariah 9:9b Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 1:1-28 ; 1 Peter 1:1-12 “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.” ( Matthew 24:36 ) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. It’s the beginning of Advent, the preparatory season before Christmas. We know that Christmas is all abo...

Daily Lectionary: Daniel 6:1-28 ; Revelation 22:1-21 “Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.” ( Psalm 25:4–5 ) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The church year ends, and the church year begins anew. One day is in the last week of the church year and the next is in the first week...

Daily Lectionary: Daniel 5:1-30 ; Revelation 21:9-27 “But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” ( Revelation 21:27 ) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Just when the description of the new Jerusalem coming down from Heaven gets really good, you learn that there is a catch. The only people allowed...

Daily Lectionary: Daniel 4:1-37 ; Revelation 21:1-8 “And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” (Revelation 21:2 ) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Does where you live have anything to do with who you are? For a lot of people, it does. They are proud citizens of whatever town, city, or state they live in; it is part of the...

Today's Reading: Small Catechism: Sacrament of the Altar, part 5 Daily Lectionary: Daniel 3:1-30 ; Revelation 20:1-15 But that person is truly worthy and well prepared who has faith in these words: “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins” ( Small Catechism Sacrament of the Altar, part 5)   In the Name + of Jesus. Are you cool enough to commune? That seems like a silly question, but som...

Today's Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 Daily Lectionary: Daniel 2:24-49 ; Revelation 19:1-21 “But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.” ( 1 Thessalonians 5:8 ) In the Name + of Jesus. ‘No Shirt, No Shoes, No Service.’ You’ve probably seen the signs in stores or restaurants but have never thought about...

Today's Reading: Isaiah 65:17-25 Daily Lectionary: Daniel 2:1-23 ; Revelation 18:1-24 “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind.” ( Isaiah 65:17 ) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Dying and going to heaven is not the ultimate fate of the Christian. We are not promised a disembodied life floating on a cloud while playing a harp....

Today's Reading: Matthew 25:1-13 ,  Introit: Ps. 39:4–5, 7– 8; antiphon: Is. 35:10 Daily Lectionary: Daniel 1:1-21 ; Matthew 28:1-20 “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.” ( Matthew 25:13 ) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. How are you supposed to be prepared for the ending when you have no idea when the ending is coming? The ten virgins in our reading couldn’t even stay awake u...

Daily Lectionary: Jeremiah 38:1-28 ; Matthew 28:57-66 “Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath! “And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you. Deliver me from all my transgressions. Do not make me the scorn of the fool!” ( Psalm 39:5 ) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. “We’re all going to die!” is...

Daily Lectionary: Jeremiah 37:1-21 ; Matthew 27:33-56 “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” ( Matthew 27:46 ) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” When Jesus speaks these words from the cross, he is doing more than making a cry of lament. The words...

Daily Lectionary: Jeremiah 33:1-22 ; Matthew 27:11-32 “In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell securely. And this is the name by which it will be called: ‘The LORD is our righteousness.’” ( Jeremiah 33:15–16 ) In the Name + of Jesus....

Today's Reading: Small Catechism: Sacrament of the Altar, part 4 Daily Lectionary: Jeremiah 31:1-17,23-34 ; Matthew 27:1-10 “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.” These words, along with the bodily eating and drinking, are the main thing in the Sacrament. Whoever believes these words has exactly what they say: “forgiveness of sins.” ( Small Catechism: Sacrament of the Altar, part 4...

Today's Reading: 2 Peter 3:3-14 Daily Lectionary: Jeremiah 30:1-24 ; Matthew 26:57-75 “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” ( 2 Peter 3:9 ) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Inigo Montoya put it best in The Princess Bride when he said, “I hate waiting.” Waiting is tortur...

Today's Reading: Daniel 7:9-14 Daily Lectionary: Jeremiah 29:1-19 ; Matthew 26:36-56 “And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.” ( Daniel 7:14 )  In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. At the end of a movie, the credits...

Today's Reading: Matthew 25:31-46, Introit: Ps. 85:1, 7, 9, 11 ; antiphon: Jeremiah 29:11a, 12 Daily Lectionary: Jeremiah 26:1-19 ; Matthew 26:20-35 “Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visi...

Today's Reading: Introit for the Second-Last Sunday of the Church Year Daily Lectionary: Jeremiah 25:1-18 ; Matthew 26:1-19 “Faithfulness springs up from the ground, and righteousness looks down from the sky” ( Ps. 85:11 ). In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. This is a remarkable Scripture passage. Ps. 85 is a cry from God’s people for His blessing. Reminding God of His previous good favor for His undes...

Today's Reading: Matthew 25:31-46 Daily Lectionary: Jeremiah 23:21-40 ; Matthew 25:31-46 “Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.’” ( Mt. 25:34 ) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Jesus’ parable of the sheep and the goats can be confusing. This parable is about judgment day, when all peop...