Reflections

Today's Reading: John 12:20-33 Daily Lectionary: 2 Chronicles 33:1-25; Colossians 1:24-2:7 "Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name." Then a voice came from heaven, saying, "I have both glorified it and will glorify it again." (John 12:27-28) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Jesus could ask th...

Today's Reading: Galatians 5:25-6:10 Daily Lectionary: 2 Chronicles 32:1-22; Colossians 1:1-23 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. (Galatians 6:2) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Bear one another's burdens? Carry someone else's overstuffed backpack? Listen to someone else's problems? Help somebody else with their problems? You've got enough to worry about with your own mix...

Today's Reading: Matthew 6:24-34 Daily Lectionary: 2 Chronicles 31:1-21; Philippians 4:1-23 Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life. (Matthew 6:25) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Right from the start, Jesus gets to the heart of our problems. It is a First Commandment issue: "You cannot serve God and money!" When greedy hearts try to prove Jesus wrong, they only deceive themselves. T...

Today's Reading: Introit for the 15th Sunday after Trinity (Psalm 86:4, 6, 15a, 16; antiphon: vs.1a, 2b, 3) Daily Lectionary: 2 Chronicles 29:1-24; Philippians 3:1-21 Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer; listen to my plea for grace. (Psalm 86:6) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. As the internet or TV might have already reminded you, today is the 20th anniversary of 9/11. When these horrific events happened...

Daily Lectionary: 2 Kings 9:1-13; 10:18-29; Philippians 2:12-30 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. (Philippians 2:12-13) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. It’s always tempting to cherry pick....

Daily Lectionary: 2 Kings 6:1-23; Philippians 1:21-2:11 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. (Philippians 2:4) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Martin Luther said, "The world is like a drunken peasant. If you lift him into the saddle on one side, he will fall off the other side." As Christians, we know that by nature we are selfish little monsters w...

Today's Reading: Small Catechism: Baptism, pt. 4 Daily Lectionary: 2 Kings 5:9-27; Philippians 1:1-20 What does such baptizing with water indicate? It indicates that the Old Adam in us should by daily contrition and repentance be drowned and die with all sins and evil desires, and that a new man should daily emerge and arise to live before God in righteousness and purity forever. Where is this wri...

Today's Reading: Galatians 5:16-24 Daily Lectionary: 2 Kings 4:48-5:8; Ephesians 6:1-24 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. (Galatians 5:17) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Well at least you don't have to say, "The devil made me do it." No, Paul...

Today's Reading: Proverbs 4:10-23 Daily Lectionary: 2 Kings 4:8-22, 32-37; Ephesians 5:15-33 I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness. When you walk, your step will not be hampered, and if you run, you will not stumble. (Proverbs 4:11-12) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Having a holiday today (for most of us) is nice, but tomorrow we have to go back to the rout...

Today's Reading: Luke 17:11-19 Daily Lectionary: 2 Kings 2:19-25; 4:1-7; Ephesians 4:25-5:14 "Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?" (Luke 17:18) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Jesus DIDN'T say, "How come no one except the foreigner came back to say 'Thank you?'" This isn't about good manners, as if the Lord is offended because the other nine lepers didn'...

Today's Reading: Introit for the 14th Sunday after Trinity (Psalm 84:1-2a, 4, 10b, 11b; antiphon: vs.9-10a) Daily Lectionary: 2 Kings 2:1-18; Ephesians 4:1-24 How lovely is Your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord. My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. (From the Introit for the 14th Sunday after Trinity) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. D...

Daily Lectionary: 1 Kings 19:1-21; Ephesians 3:1-21 And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper....

Today's Reading: Galatians 3:15-22 Daily Lectionary: 1 Kings 18:20-40; Ephesians 2:1-22 But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. (Galatians 3:22) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. You’re imprisoned under sin. That’s you in yourself. That’s every single man, woman, and child who's ever lived, is living, or will...

Today's Reading: Small Catechism: Baptism, pt. 3 Daily Lectionary: 1 Kings 18:1-19; Ephesians 1:1-23 Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself. (Acts 2:38-39) In th...

Today's Reading: 2 Chronicles 28:8-15 Daily Lectionary: 1 Kings 16:29-17:24; 2 Corinthians 9:1-15 But a prophet of the Lord was there, whose name was Oded, and he went out to meet the army that came to Samaria and said to them, "Now hear me, and send back the captives from your relatives whom you have taken, for the fierce wrath of the Lord is upon you." (2 Chronicles 28:9, 11) In the Name + of Je...

Today's Reading: Luke 10:21-37 Daily Lectionary: 1 Kings 12:20-13:5, 33-34; 2 Corinthians 8:1-24 Jesus said to him, "You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live." (Luke 10:28) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Context is pretty important. What are the facts surrounding the situation? "Mom, can I use the car this weekend?" "What needs to happen before I let you drive?" "My room needs to be...

Today's Reading: Mark 6:14-29 Daily Lectionary: 1 Kings 11:42-12:19; 2 Corinthians 7:1-16 The king sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison and brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. (Mark 6:27-28) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Poor John the Baptist was trying to do God's work of preparing the w...

Today's Reading: Introit for the Martyrdom of St. John the Baptist (Psalm 31:1, 3, 5; antiphon: Rev. 7:14b) Daily Lectionary: 1 Kings 11:1-26; 2 Corinthians 6:1-18 We appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. (2 Corinthians 6:1) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 2 Corinthians 5 ends with beautiful Gospel words explaining how the Father has graciously reconciled us to Himself through Chris...

Daily Lectionary: 1 Kings 9:1-9; 10:1-13; 2 Corinthians 5:1-21 "God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ" (2 Corinthians 5:19) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 2 Corinthians 5 overflows with spiritual treasures! Paul begins by comparing our human bodies to tents. Tents are fun for a little while, but they aren’t a permanent home. They aren’t built to last. That is what happens to our bodies...

Daily Lectionary: 1 Kings 8:22-30, 46-63; 2 Corinthians 4:1-18 "So we do not lose heart." (2 Corinthians 4:16) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Proclaiming the Good News of Christ in the first century AD wasn’t easy. Teaching God’s Word meant facing resistance, hostility, and persecution. Paul says that he and his companions were afflicted in every way. In such an environment, it would be tempting to...

Today's Reading: Small Catechism: Baptism, part 2 Daily Lectionary: 1 Kings 7:51-8:21; 2 Corinthians 3:1-18 What benefits does Baptism give? (Small Catechism: Baptism) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Lutherans understand just how important Holy Baptism is. As Luther explains in the catechism, "[Baptism] works forgiveness of sins, rescues from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all w...

Today's Reading: Luke 22: 24-30 Daily Lectionary: 1 Kings 5:1-16; 2 Corinthians 1:23-2:17 "Let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves." (Luke 22:26) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Today the Church remembers St. Bartholomew, one of the twelve apostles. Legends abound about him, but little is known for certain, even his name! Matthew, Mark, and Luke’s Gospels...

Today's Reading: Isaiah 29:17-24 Daily Lectionary: 1 Kings 3:1-15; 2 Corinthians 1:1-22 "Is it not yet a very little while. . ." (Isaiah 29:17) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. One of the great themes of the Bible is something called the Great Reversal. This idea is that one day a great transformation will take place: The low will be lifted up while the mighty and proud will be brought down. Mary’s s...

Today's Reading: Mark 7:31-37 Daily Lectionary: 1 Kings 2:1-27; 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 "He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak." (Mark 7:37) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. I had a friend who was born with severe hearing loss. He was totally deaf in one ear and had extremely limited hearing in the other. His first language was sign language. In his teenage years h...

Today's Reading: Introit for the 12th Sunday after Trinity (Psalm 70:2b, 4a, 5b; antiphon: vs.1-2a) Daily Lectionary: 1 Kings 1:1-4, 15-35; 1 Corinthians 12:14-31 You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay! (From the Introit for the 12th Sunday after Trinity) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Psalm 70 expresses a prayer that sooner or later, every believer in God has prayed, namely: Help!...