Reflections

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...

Daily Lectionary: Genesis 24:32-52, 61-67; Mark 8:1-21   "And this day I came to the well and said, ‘O Lord God of my master Abraham, if You will now prosper the way in which I go, behold, I stand by the well of water; and it shall come to pass that when the virgin comes out to draw water, and I say to her, "Please give me a little water from your pitcher to drink."'" (Genesis 24:42-43)   In the N...

Daily Lectionary: Genesis 24:1-31; Mark 7:24-37   And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers in his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue. Then, looking up to heaven, he sighed, and said to him, "Ephphatha," that is, "Be opened." (Mark 7:33-34)   In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. "Ephphatha. Be opened." This is what happens when Jesus, the Word made flesh, speaks. Jesus' Word ope...

Today's Reading: Small Catechism:  Fifth Commandment Daily Lectionary: Genesis 22:1-19; Mark 7:1-23   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. ( Small Catechism: Fifth Commandment)   In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Last week when we read about the Fourth Commandment...

Today's Reading: 1 Thessalonians 4:1-7 Daily Lectionary: Genesis 21:1-21; Mark 6:35-56   For this is the will of God, your sanctification. (1 Thessalonians 4:3a)   In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Sanctification is the word of the day from Paul in his letter to the Thessalonians. Sanctification means "to make holy." If you look at church history, you'll notice that a lot of ink has been spilled about...

Today's Reading: Genesis 32:22-32 Daily Lectionary: Genesis 18:1-15; Mark 6:14-34   And He said, "Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed." (Genesis 32:28)   In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. No one likes losing. It doesn't matter if it's a job, a ballgame, a barroom brawl or Monopoly. You see, we follow the principle that...

Today's Reading: Matthew 15:21-28 Daily Lectionary: Genesis 16:1-9, 15-17:22; Mark 6:1-13     "Yes it is, Lord," she said. "Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master's table." (Matthew 15:27)   In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. She is desperate. She has no one to turn to. Her daughter is deeply oppressed by a demon. The woman is at the end of her rope. Jesus is all she has left. She hea...

Today's Reading: Introit for the Second Sunday in Lent             (Psalm 25: 1-2a, 7-8, 11; antiphon: v. 6, 2b, 22) Daily Lectionary: Genesis 15:1-21; Mark 5:21-43   Remember your mercy, O Lord, and your steadfast love, for they have been from of old. Let not my enemies exult over me. Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles. (From the Introit for the Second Sunday in Lent)   In the Name + o...

Daily Lectionary: Genesis 13:1-18; Mark 5:1-20   The Lord said to Abram after Lot had parted from him, "Look around from where you are, to the north and south, to the east and west. All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever." (Genesis 13:14-15)   In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Yesterday we heard how God called Abram. Today we hear how God gives to Abram. Even though Lo...

Daily Lectionary: Genesis 11:27-12:20; Mark 4:21-41   The Lord had said to Abram, "Go from your country, your people and your father's household to the land I will show you." (Genesis 12:1)   In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. God is the God who calls. In the beginning God called out, "Let there be light," and there was light. God called Noah and saved his family in the ark. God called Israel out of Eg...

Today's Reading: Small Catechism:  Fourth Commandment Daily Lectionary: Genesis 8:13-9:17; Mark 4:1-20   Honor your father and mother. What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we do not despise or anger our parents and other authorities, but honor them, serve and obey them, love and cherish them. ( Small Catechism: Fourth Commandment)   In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. When it comes t...

Today's Reading: 2 Corinthians 6:1-10 Daily Lectionary: Genesis 7:11-8:12; Mark 3:20-35   Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. (2 Corinthians 6:2)   In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. When is the day of our salvation? Was it when Jesus died on the Cross and rose again? Was it the day of your Baptism into Jesus' death and resurrection? Is it when you hear God's Word and...