Reflections

Today's Reading: Mark 16:14-20 Daily Lectionary: Exodus 22:20-23:13; Luke 4:16-30  And he said to them, "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation." (Mark 16:15)   In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Mark was one of the evangelists whom Jesus would use to proclaim the Gospel into all the world. Mark would go out after Jesus' ascension to tell that the kingdom of God was at hand...

Today's Reading: John 20:19-31 Daily Lectionary: Exodus 20:1-24; Luke 4:1-15  Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." (John 20:29) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. We can certainly agree with Thomas in today's reading: "Unless I see in His hands the mark of the nails and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and...

Today's Reading: Introit for the Second Sunday of Easter        (Psalm 81:1, 71, 10, 16b; antiphon: 1 Peter 2:2a) Daily Lectionary: Exodus 19:1-25; Hebrews 13:1-21  "I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it." (From the Introit for the Second Sunday of Easter)  In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. As you read through various narratives i...

Today's Reading:   1 Corinthians 5:6-8 Daily Lectionary: Exodus 18:5-27; Hebrews 12:1-24  Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. (1 Corinthians 5:8)   In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Leaven is yeast, which in baking makes dough rise. If you have ever made bread or rolls with yeast in them,...

Today's Reading: Job 19:23-37 Daily Lectionary: Exodus 17:1-16; Hebrews 11:1-29  "For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth." (Job 19:25) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. No one needs to convince you that over the last two years we have seen and experienced the sharpness of death. From the ongoing pandemic to wars being fought in Europe, we are constantly under t...

Daily Lectionary: Exodus 16:13-35; Hebrews 10:19-39  Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. (Hebrews 10:22)   In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. In the third setting of the Divine Service, during Confession and Absolution we say, "Let us draw near with a true heart and confess our sins...

Today's Reading: Luke 24:36-48 Daily Lectionary: Exodus 15:19-16:12; Hebrews 10:1-18 And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, "Have you anything here to eat?" They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate before them. (Luke 24:41-42)  In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Jesus loves to eat! This is quite remarkable! The resurrected Christ breaks bread...

Today's Reading: Luke 24:13-35 Daily Lectionary: Exodus 15:1-18; Hebrew 9:1-28  When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. (Luke 24:30-31) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Christ is risen! The resurrection is hard to believe and hold onto. We don't see people ris...

Today's Reading: Mark 16:1-8 Daily Lectionary: Exodus 14:10-31; Hebrews 7:23-8:13  And they went out and fled the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them. . .  (Mark 16:8)  In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Christ is risen! So shall you be! Historically Mark, who wrote this Gospel, has been recorded as the one who fled away naked from Jesus on the night of Jesus' betrayal. Imagine that fo...

Today's Reading: Matthew 27:57-66 Daily Lectionary: Exodus 13:17-14:9; Hebrews 7:1-22 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than t...

Today's Reading: John 18:1-19:42 Daily Lectionary: Exodus 12:29-32; 13:1-16; Hebrews 6:1-20 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of hi...

Today's Reading: John 13:1-15, 34-35 Daily Lectionary: Exodus 12:1-28; Hebrews 5:1-14  [Jesus said][ "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:34-35) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Today is all about commands. That doesn't...

Today's Reading:   Luke 22:1-23:56 Daily Lectionary: Exodus 10:21-11:10; Hebrews 4:1-16 Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve. He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them. And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. So he consented and sought an opportunity to betray him to them in the absence of...

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...