Reflections

Today's Reading: Genesis 15:1-6 Daily Lectionary: Proverbs 4:1-27; John 12:1-19 And (the LORD) brought (Abram) outside and said, "Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them." Then he said to him, "So shall your offspring be." And he believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness. (Genesis 15:5,6) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. When Abram was 75 and his wi...

Today's Reading: Luke 16:19-31 Daily Lectionary: Proverbs 3:5-24; John 11:38-57 …"If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead." (Luke 16:31b) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Today, we meet Lazarus. He has the distinction of being the only character in Jesus' parables to be given a name. Lazarus means, "One whom God helps." Every day...

Today's Reading: Introit for the First Sunday after Trinity (Psalm 13:1-4; antiphon: vs. 5-6) Daily Lectionary: Proverbs 1:8-33; John 11:17-37 [O Lord,] I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me. (From the Introit for the First Sunday after Trinity) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Psalm 13 was wr...

Daily Lectionary: Ecclesiastes 12:1-14; John 11:1-16 Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, "I have no pleasure in them." (Ecclesiastes 12:1) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. God gave King Solomon special wisdom from God so that he could be a good king over Israel (See 1 Kings 3). You hear powerful wisdom from Sol...

Today's Reading: Romans 11:33-36 Daily Lectionary: Ecclesiastes 11:1-10; John 10:22-42 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! (Romans 11:33) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Romans gives a beautiful explanation of how God saves sinful man through His Son, Jesus Christ. Make it a regular read throughout your life. Y...

Today's Reading: Small Catechism: Apostles Creed, Third Article, pt. 1 Daily Lectionary: Ecclesiastes 10:1-20; John 10:1-21 I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith. (Small Catechism: Apostles Creed, Third Article) In...

Daily Lectionary: John 9:24-41 Jesus said, "For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind." (John 9:39) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. In John 9 we see a man with tremendous courage. He had been born blind, and Jesus had given him sight. It was such an amazing miracle that everyone was praising Jesus, which caused the Jewish leaders to br...

Today's Reading: Isaiah 6:1-7 Daily Lectionary: Ecclesiastes 8:1-17; John 9:1-23 "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!" (Isaiah 6:3b) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Isaiah goes into the temple and sees the Lord God sitting on a throne. God is so glorious that even the train of His robe fills the huge building. John 12:41 tells us that Isaiah is seeing the Son...

Today's Reading: John 3:1-17 Daily Lectionary: Numbers 35:9-30; Luke 24:28-53 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God." (John 3:5) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Nicodemus knew that Jesus was a teacher sent from God, but he wanted to learn more, so he came to Jesus at night. What he learned was greater than he could...

Today's Reading: Introit for Holy Trinity (Psalm 8:1-2a, 3-5; antiphon: Liturgical Text) Daily Lectionary: Numbers 32:1-6, 16-27; Luke 24:1-27 Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger. (From the Introit for the Holy Trinity) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The Introit for Trinity Sunday is based on Psalm 8. This ps...

Today's Reading: Genesis 11:1-9 Daily Lectionary: Numbers 27:12-23; Luke 23:26-56 Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the LORD confused the language of all the earth. And from there the LORD dispersed them over the face of all the earth. (Genesis 11:9) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. As we continue to celebrate Pentecost, we rejoice that the Gospel of Christ Jesus has gone all around...

Today's Reading: Acts 2:1-21 Daily Lectionary: Numbers 24:1-25; Luke 23:1-25 But others mocking said, "They are filled with new wine." (Acts 2:13) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Today, we hear the account of what happened on Pentecost. The believers were all together. The mighty rushing wind blew around them, and then tongues of flame appeared on the believers' heads as the Holy Spirit was poured o...

Today's Reading: Small Catechism: Apostles Creed, Second Article, part 3 Daily Lectionary: Numbers 23:4-28; Luke 22:47-71 …that I may be His own and live under Him in His kingdom and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence and blessedness, just as He is risen from the dead, lives and reigns to all eternity. This is most certainly true. (Small Catechism: Apostles Creed, Second Article) In...

Today's Reading: John 10:1-10 Daily Lectionary: Numbers 22:21-23:3; Luke 22:24-46 "When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers." (John 10:4,5) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Today we continue our celebration of Pentecost as we hea...

Today's Reading: John 3:16-21 Daily Lectionary: Numbers 22:1-20; Luke 22:1-23 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Yesterday we celebrated the Feast of Pentecost. Now, for two days after Pentecost, the Church focuses on readings that help us remember important things ab...

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." (John 14:27) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. A joyful and blessed Pentecost to you! Today we celebrate the day that the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the Church. We rejoice that He caused the Gospel to be preached--starting in Jerusalem and then to...

Today's Reading: John 14:15-21 Daily Lectionary: Numbers 20:22-21:9; Luke 20:45-21:19 "And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth." (John 14:16-17a) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. We are on the verge of moving from the season of Easter to the season of Pentecost, which begins on the 50th day after the resurrection of our LORD! Wh...

Daily Lectionary: Numbers 20:1-21; Luke 20:19-44 [Jesus] said to them, "Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God the things that are God's." (Luke 20:25) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Living as Christians in the world means that we live in the two kingdoms God has made for us. One kingdom is called the "Kingdom of the Right," otherwise known as the Church, and the other kingdo...

Daily Lectionary: Numbers 16:41-17:13; Luke 20:1-18 "When then is this that is written, 'The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone'? Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him." (Luke 20:17-18) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. It starts to mess with our prideful sinful nature when other people receive praise and hono...

Today's Reading: Small Catechism: Apostles Creed, Second Article, pt.2 Daily Lectionary: Numbers 16:23-40; Luke 19:29-48 [Christ] has redeemed me, a lost and condemned person, purchased and won me from all sins, death, and from the power of the devil; not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and earth. (Small Catechism: Apostles Creed, Second Artic...

Today's Reading: 1 Peter 4:7-14 Daily Lectionary: Numbers 16:1-22; Luke 19:11-28 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. (1 Peter 4:8) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. A long time ago in the 20th century, a rock band called The Beatles wrote a very famous song called, "All You Need Is Love." People have fun analyzing this idea. The bottom line is that it i...

Today's Reading: Ezekiel 36:22-28 Daily Lectionary: Numbers 14:25-45; Luke 18:35-19:10 "[God says] I will. . . I will. . . I will. . . I will. . . I will. . . I will. . . I will. . . I will. . . " (Ezekiel 36:24-28) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Eight times. . . EIGHT times God describes in just five verses what HE will do for His people, and you know what? What God does covers EVERYTHING! He does...

Today's Reading: John 15:26-16:4 Daily Lectionary: Numbers 14:1-25; Luke 18:18-34 "[The Holy Spirit] will bear witness about me. . . I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away." (John 15:26c,16:1) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Today is Exaudi Sunday. It means "hear." God gives us complete assurance that He hears us. And when He hears us, He assures us that He will never let...

Today's Reading: Introit for the Seventh Sunday of Easter Daily Lectionary: Numbers 13:1-3, 17-33; Luke 18:1-17 Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud. Alleluia. Your face, LORD, do I seek; hide not your face from me. Alleluia. Your face, LORD, do I seek; hide not your face from me. Alleluia. (From the Introit for the Seventh Sunday of Easter) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. One of the mysteries of the fait...

Today's Reading: Acts 1:1-11 Daily Lectionary: Numbers 11:24-29; 12:1-16; Luke 17:20-37 [Jesus] said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority." (Acts 1:7) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. No one knows when Jesus will come again in glory on the Last Day. Only God knows. Over the centuries many so-called "Christian" teachers have claimed to kno...