Reflections

March 8, 2026 Today's Reading: Luke 11:14-28 Daily Lectionary: Genesis 27:30-45; 28:10-22 ; Mark 9:1-13 “As he said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, ‘Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!’ But he said, ‘Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!’” (Luke 11:27-28) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. What does it mea...

March 7, 2026 Today's Reading: Introit for Lent 3 - Psalm 25:1-2, 17-18, 20; antiphon: Psalm 25:15-16 Daily Lectionary: Genesis 27:1-29 ; Mark 8:22-38 “To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.” (Psalm 25:1)   In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.   O Lord, to You I lift up my soul. I trust in You. Yes, my life rests on You, for You are the unshakable foundation. That’s what my Baptism tells me. I have been put...

March 6, 2026 Today's Reading: Mark 8:1-21 Daily Lectionary: Genesis 24:32-52, 61-67; Genesis 25:1-26:35 ; Mark 8:1-21 “And his disciples answered him, ‘How can one feed these people with bread here in this desolate place?’” (Mark 8:4) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. We can be so forgetful when it comes to our Lord’s compassion towards us, can’t we? We’re not alone! What good company we have with th...

March 5, 2026 Today's Reading: Catechism: Eighth Commandment Daily Lectionary: Genesis 24:1-31 ; Mark 7:24-37 “We should fear and love God so that we do not tell lies about our neighbor, betray him, slander him, or hurt his reputation, but defend him, speak well of him, and explain everything in the kindest way.” (Luther’s meaning for the Eighth Commandment) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The Eight...

March 4, 2026 Today's Reading: Mark 7:1-23 Daily Lectionary: Genesis 22:1-19 ; Mark 7:1-23 “And he said, ‘What comes out of a person is what defiles him.’” (Mark 7:20) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The topic of food can get complicated these days with all of the diets out there: keto, carnivore, Mediterranean, vegetarian, gluten-free, etc. In Jesus’ day, food was a controversial topic. Lines were...

March 3, 2026 Today's Reading: 1 Thessalonians 4:1-7 or Romans 5:1-5 Daily Lectionary: Genesis 21:1-21 ; Mark 6:35-56 “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:1) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.   Through! What a tiny preposition, but that preposition is Good News for you! Paul states that “we have peace with God through our L...

March 2, 2026 Today's Reading: Genesis 32:22-32 Daily Lectionary: Genesis 18:1-15; Genesis 18:16-20:18 ; Mark 6:14-34 “Then he said, ‘Let me go, for the day has broken.’ But Jacob said, ‘I will not let you go unless you bless me.’” (Genesis 32:26)   In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.   What a wrestling match in Genesis 32! Not the one we would expect. Wasn’t the Lord on Jacob’s side? Yes, but here it a...

March 1, 2026 Today's Reading: Matthew 15:21-28 Daily Lectionary: Genesis 16:1-9, 15-17:22 ; Mark 6:1-13 “And [Jesus] answered, ‘It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.’” (Matthew 15:26) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Jesus calls her what?!? A dog! What many Jews labeled the Canaanites! Looks like a roadblock! A wall! This mommy doesn’t slink away, though, with her ta...

February 28, 2026 Today's Reading: Introit for Lent 2 - Psalm 25:1-2a, 7-8, 11; antiphon: Psalm 25:6, 2b, 22 Daily Lectionary: Genesis 15:1-21 ; Mark 5:21-43 “Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O Lord!” (Psalm 25:7) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Did you know that a person’s brain doesn’t fully develop...

February 27, 2026 Today's Reading: Mark 5:1-20 Daily Lectionary: Genesis 13:1-18 ; Genesis 14:1-24 ; Mark 5:1-20 “And crying out with a loud voice, he said, ‘What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?’” (Mark 5:7a)  In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. “Jesus is my homeboy.” Have you ever heard anyone say something like that? Yes, Jesus took on human flesh, but does that make Him a fun...

February 26, 2026 Today's Reading: Catechism: Seventh Commandment Daily Lectionary: Genesis 11:27-12:20 ; Mark 4:21-41 “We should fear and love God so that we do not take our neighbor’s money or possessions, or get them in any dishonest way, but help him to improve and protect his possessions and income.” (Luther’s Small Catechism, The Seventh Commandment - What does this mean?) In the Name + of J...

February 25, 2026 Today's Reading: Hebrews 4:14-16 Daily Lectionary: Genesis 8:13-9:17 ; Genesis 9:18-11:26 ; Mark 4:1-20 “ For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. It could be argued that the best coaches in professional sports are the on...

February 24, 2026 Today's Reading: Matthew 11:25-30 Daily Lectionary: Genesis 7:11-8:12 ; Mark 3:20-35 “Jesus declared, ‘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. Our bodies need rest. Your brain can only study for so long before you need a break. Your voice can only practice singing for so long before it starts to get...

February 23, 2026 Today's Reading: Genesis 3:1-21 Daily Lectionary: Genesis 6:1-7:5 ; Mark 3:1-19 “And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.” (Genesis 3:8) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Have you ever played hide and seek with a toddler? They’re not v...

February 22, 2026 Today's Reading: Matthew 4:1-11 Daily Lectionary: Genesis 4:1-26 ; Mark 2:18-28 “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” (Matthew 4:1)  In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Because of our sinful nature, it doesn't always take a whole lot of prodding from Satan for us to succumb to temptation. Are you ever tempted by selfishness? After all, lo...

February 21, 2026 Today's Reading: Introit for Lent 1 - Psalm 91:1-2, 9-10, 13; antiphon: Psalm 91:15a, c, 16 Daily Lectionary: Genesis 3:1-24 ; Mark 2:1-17 “With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.” (Psalm 91:16) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. I’m not from Missouri, but I know that Missouri is known as the “Show Me” state. You might know the phrase “actions speak louder than wo...

February 20, 2026 Today's Reading: Mark 1:29-45 Daily Lectionary: Genesis 2:4-25 ; Mark 1:29-45 “And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.” (Mark 1:35) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Healings and more healings. This is what Jesus is doing. But amidst the healings is prayer. Jesus prays. We see this quite often w...

February 19, 2026 Today's Reading: Catechism: Sixth Commandment Daily Lectionary: Genesis 1:20-2:3 ; Mark 1:14-28 “You shall not commit adultery. What does this mean?” (Sixth Commandment, Luther’s Small Catechism) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. I have been a Lutheran for almost my whole life. I was baptized when I was just a couple of months old. I like to think of myself as a first-generation Luth...

February 18, 2026 Today's Reading:   Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 Daily Lectionary: Genesis 1:1-19 ; Mark 1:1-13 “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. When you think about treasure, maybe you think about buried treasure, chests full of gold, pirates searching for that which is lost, maps where X marks the spot.  Martin Luther said in thes...

February 17, 2026 Today's Reading: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 Daily Lectionary: Job 13:1-12 ; John 6:1-21 “Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.” (1 Corinthians 13:7-8) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 1 Corinthians 13 is a Scripture you might hear quite often at weddings. As a man and woman stand in the presence of God and His people, they decl...

February 16, 2026 Today's Reading: 1 Samuel 16:1-13 or Isaiah 35:3-7 Daily Lectionary: Job 12:1-6, 12-25 ; John 5:30-47 “But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.’” (1 Samuel 16:7) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. I’m...

February 15, 2026 Today's Reading: Luke 18:31-43 Daily Lectionary: Job 11:1-20 ; John 5:19-29 “And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’” (Luke 18:39) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Have you ever had someone ask you to do something, and you didn’t listen to them? A parent? A friend? A sibling? A teacher? A coa...

February 14, 2026 Today's Reading: Introit for Quinquagesima - Psalm 31:1, 5, 9, 16; antiphon: Psalm 31:2b-3 Daily Lectionary: Job 10:1-22 ; John 5:1-18 “In you, LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame;” (Psalm 31:1) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. One thing that we will all search for throughout our lifetime and never really seem to find is security. It could be financial security,...

February 13, 2026 Today's Reading: John 4:46-54 Daily Lectionary: Job 9:1-35   “Jesus said to him, ’Go; your son will live.” (John 4:50) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Isn’t it amazing how Jesus can make the most ridiculously absurd statements and no one from among His followers ever questions Him? Pharisees and Sadducees seemingly get paid by the inquiry, but that’s for another time. But really, i...

February 12, 2026 Today's Reading: Catechism: Fifth Commandment Daily Lectionary: Job 8:1-22 ; John 4:27-45 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. This might sound absurd to say, but the Fifth Commandment is a hard life lesson to le...