Reflections

Today's Reading: Mark 14:1-15:47 Daily Lectionary:  Exodus 9:29-10:20; Hebrews 3:1-19 There were some who said to themselves indignantly, "Why was the ointment wasted like that?" (Mark 14:4) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Have you ever wasted something? Honestly, you've probably wasted time, and maybe you've been told you were wasting energy. Certainly, no one wants to waste money or food or anythi...

Today's Reading: John 12:1-43 Daily Lectionary: Exodus 9:1-28; Hebrews 2:1-18 But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. (Hebrews 2:9) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Jesus was crowned with glory and honor, but it sure looks odd. The...

Today's Reading: Matthew 21:1-9 Daily Lectionary: Exodus 8:1-32; Hebrews 1:1-14   And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!" (Matthew 21:9) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Today is a day full of strange words. Where else other than church and devotions do you see the...

Today's Reading:   Introit for Palmarum        (Psalm 24:7-10; antiphon: Psalm 118:26) Daily Lectionary: Exodus 7:1-25; Mark 16:1-20 Who is this King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle! Lift up your heads, O gates! And lift them up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory! (From the In...

Daily Lectionary: Exodus 5:1-6:1; Mark 15:33-47 And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, "Truly this man was the Son of God!" (Mark 15:39) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The words of the centurion by the side of the Cross are, for the most part, some of the most important true words spoken. Jesus is truly the Son of God. However, there is one...

Daily Lectionary: Exodus 4:19-31; Mark 15:16-32 And the Lord said to Moses, "When you go back to Egypt, see that you do before Pharaoh all the miracles that I have put in your power. But I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go." (Exodus 4:21) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart. Wait, what? The Lord is the one who hardened Pharaoh's heart, who bro...

Today's Reading: Small Catechism:  Eighth Commandment Daily Lectionary: Exodus 4:1-18; Mark 15:1-15 Then Moses answered, "But behold, they will not believe me or listen to my voice, for they will say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you.'" (Exodus 4:1) You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. ( Small Catechism: Eighth Commandment) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. What happens when you te...

Today's Reading: Hebrews 9:11-15 Daily Lectionary: Exodus 2:23-3:22; Mark 14:53-72 [Jesus] entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. (Hebrews 9:12) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Blood makes people squeamish. Some people faint or pass out at the sight of blood. Few people like to look...

Today's Reading:   Genesis 22:1-14 Daily Lectionary: Exodus 2:1-33; Mark 14:32-52 "God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son." (Genesis 22:8) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. What does God expect of you? Does He expect a perfect life? Or maybe He wants proof of your faithfulness by seeing what a great job you do of telling other people about Jesus. Certainly, God doesn't expe...

Today's Reading: John 8:46-59 Daily Lectionary: Exodus 1:1-22; Mark 14:12-31  [Jesus said,] "Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death." (John 8:51)  In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Do you ever think that terrible things can't happen to you? Car accidents may happen to other people, but not to you. Horrible illnesses may happen to other people, but not to you. Bull...

Today's Reading: Introit for the Fifth Sunday in Lent             (Psalm 43:3-5; antiphon: v. 1-2a) Daily Lectionary: Genesis 49:29-50:7, 14-26; Mark 14:1-11   Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling! (From the Introit for the Fifth Sunday in Lent) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Throughout Holy Scripture, God does some of His mo...

Daily Lectionary: Genesis 47:1-31; Mark 13:24-37   So Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen; and they had possessions there and grew and multiplied exceedingly. (Genesis 47:27) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The Israelites were tempted to think that their time in Egypt was one of glory and ease, and that they had deserved the possessions they had and land they dwelled in. But...

Daily Lectionary: Genesis 45:1-20, 24-28; Mark 13:1-23   "I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life." (Genesis 45:4-5)   In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. There are many Old Testament people whose lives foreshadow and point us to the person and work of Jesus. Je...

Today's Reading: Small Catechism:  Seventh Commandment Daily Lectionary: Genesis 44:1-18, 32-34; Mark 12:28-44   You shall not steal. What does this mean? 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. ( Small Catechism: Seventh Commandment)   In the Name + of...

Today's Reading: Galatians 4:21-31 Daily Lectionary: Genesis 43:1-28; Mark 12:13-27   The Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all. (Galatians 4:26)   In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The Church father Cyprian once wrote that, "No one can have God as his Father, who does not have the Church as his mother." St. Augustine and Martin Luther would later quote these famous words as well. Cyp...

Today's Reading:   Exodus 16:2-21 Daily Lectionary: Genesis 42:1-34, 38; Mark 12:1-12   And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, "I have heard the complaints of the children of Israel. Speak to them, saying, ‘At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread. And you shall know that I am the Lord your God.'" (Exodus 16:11-12)   In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Yahweh provi...

Today's Reading: John 6:1-15 Daily Lectionary: Genesis 41:28-57; Mark 11:20-33   Then Jesus said, "Make the people sit down." Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. (John 6:10)   In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Ever heard a song, watched a movie, or read a book, and afterwards thought, "That sounds familiar; where have I heard that before?" Sometim...

Today's Reading: Introit for the Fourth Sunday in Lent             (Psalm 122:1-2, 6, 8; antiphon: Isaiah 66:10a, 11a) Daily Lectionary: Genesis 41:1-27; Mark 11:1-19   I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go to the house of the Lord!" (From the Introit for the Fourth Sunday in Lent)   In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Psalm 122 is one of several ascent psalms in the psalter, the Old Testament hym...

Today's Reading:   Luke 1:26-38 Daily Lectionary: Genesis 40:1-23; Mark 10:32-52   "And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call his name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give him the throne of His father David. And he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end." (L...

Daily Lectionary: Genesis 39:1-23; Mark 10:13-31   The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. (Genesis 39:2)   In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Even though he was thrown in a pit by his brothers. Even though he was sold into slavery. Even though his father Jacob thought he was dead. Even though he was hounded by temptation and sin by Pot...

Today's Reading: Small Catechism,  Sixth Commandment Daily Lectionary: Genesis 37:1-36; Mark 10:1-12   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 all we say and do, and that husband and wife love and honor each other. ( Small Catechism: Sixth Commandment)   In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. In 1 Corinthians 6, Paul...

Today's Reading: Ephesians 5:1-9 Daily Lectionary: Genesis 35:1-29; Mark 9:33-50   For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light(for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth). (Ephesians 5:8-9)   In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Darkness in Scripture is always more than the physical absence of light. It is a spiritual darkness, to...

Today's Reading: Exodus 8:16-24 Daily Lectionary:  Genesis 29:1-30; Mark 9:14-32   Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, "This is the finger of God." But Pharaoh's heart grew hard, and he did not heed them, just as the Lord had said. (Exodus 8:19)   In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. God's finger brought judgment upon Pharaoh and all his idols. Flies and lice soon gave way to darkness, and eventually dea...

Today's Reading:   Luke 11:14-28 Daily Lectionary: Genesis 27:30-45; 28:10-22; Mark 9:1-13   "When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace. But when one stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoils." (Luke 11:21-22)   In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. "He is possessed by Beelzebub and by...

Today's Reading: Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23 Daily Lectionary: Genesis 27:1-29; Mark 8:22-38   Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, "Arise, take the young Child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy him." (Matthew 2:13)   In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The last time a...