Reflections

December 27, 2025

Today's Reading: John 21:20-25

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 51:17-52:12; Matthew 2:1-12

“If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!” (John 21:22)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

It’s easy to make comparisons to others. The flesh wants to be on top, number one, the best at everything. You see it in children who cry and throw tantrums when they lose at something or feel slighted by another child. Adults are no differ...

December 26, 2025

Today's Reading: Matthew 23:34-39

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 49:22-26; 50:4-51:8, 12-16; Matthew 1:18-25

“Truly, I say to you all these things will come upon this generation” (Matthew 23:36)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

This text speaks about Jerusalem’s rejection of Christ. Prophets and wise men will come from God only to suffer death, a pattern history reveals in the examples of Abel and Zechariah the son of Barachiah, the latter being “murdered between the sanctuary and the altar.” Nevertheless, vindication will come...

December 25, 2025

Today's Reading: John 1:1-18

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 49:1-18; Matthew 1:1-17

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

The words “in the beginning” take us back to Genesis. We know the story: a perfect, pristine creation by God in six days comes crashing down under the curse of sin by one man’s trespass...

December 24, 2025

Today's Reading: Matthew 1:18-25

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 44:21-45:13, 20-25; Daniel 10:1-12:13; Isaiah 48:1-22; Revelation 12:1-17

“She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Isaiah 44:21-45:13 makes the point that God is in control of conducting affairs and uses people according to His good and gracious will. His Word won’t return void but always accomplishes His purpose. So, despite how chaoti...

December 23, 2025

Today's Reading: Deuteronomy 18:15-19

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 43:25-44:20; Revelation 11:1-19

“…I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him” (Deuteronomy 18:18)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

God charges every prophet, disciple, apostle, and pastor to speak His Word; thus, the wide sense of Deuteronomy 18:18. God gives His Word to His men bearing the task of speaking the full counsel of the divine Word. God desires His office bearers to speak what H...

December 22, 2025

Today's Reading: John 1:19-28 

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 43:1-24; Revelation 9:13-10:11

“I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said” (John 1:23)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

The Pharisees sent priests and Levites to scope out the preacher, the first of many encounters between God and His enemies recorded in the Gospels. Their questions aren’t for idle curiosity and genuine desire for the truth. The higher-ups want to kno...

December 21, 2025

Today's Reading: John 20:24-29

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 42:1-25; Revelation 9:1-12

“Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Thomas refused to believe his brothers’ testimony of the risen Christ. He wanted concrete proof, a living body he could feel, a real visual for the eyes. This makes sense. Jesus had prophesied His resurrection, and Thomas wanted evidence. Why would he give up everything for a lie? He’s doubting, thus the moni...

December 20, 2025

Today's Reading: Introit for Advent 4 - Psalm 19:1, 4-6; antiphon: Isaiah 45:8a

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 40:18-41:10; Revelation 8:1-13

"The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork." (Psalm 19:1)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

The heavens declare. The sky proclaims. The glory of God is spoken. The handiwork of God is revealed. Creation itself shows us who God is. Not fully; we have the Scriptures to tell us in detail who God is and of His great sacrifice on the cross on our behalf...

December 19, 2025

Today's Reading: Revelation 7:1-17

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 40:1-17; Revelation 7:1-17

"These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." (Revelation 7:14b)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

As we said on Wednesday, Revelation is not a timeline of the last days, but an image of Christ and His Church at all times. And also, there is once again a difference between what is heard and what is seen. 144,000 is 12 (the number of...

December 18, 2025

Today's Reading: Catechism - Table of Duties: To Widows

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 34:1-2, 8-35:10; Micah 1:1-7:20; Revelation 6:1-17

"She who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day, but she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives." (1 Timothy 5:5-6)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

The Table of Duties tells us how we should live in the vocations that the Lord has placed us in. Even though not very many reading these...

December 17, 2025

Today's Reading: Revelation 5:1-14

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 33:1-24; Revelation 5:1-14

"...I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain..." (Revelation 5:6)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Revelation is not a timeline of the last days, but an image of Christ and His Church at all times. Sure, the pictures described inside make the imagination run wild. But all of Scripture tells us about Jesus and what He has done for us. This chapter is no different. 

There is only one worthy to open or c...

December 16, 2025

Today's Reading: 1 Corinthians 4:1-5

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 32:1-20; Revelation 4:1-11

"This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God." (1 Corinthians 4:1)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

It is important to know what a pastor isn't and what a pastor is. Since he's in front of the congregation all the time, we sometimes think he's the most important person there. He's not. We sometimes think that because he knows so much of God's Word, he must be holier than everyone...

December 15, 2025

Today's Reading: Isaiah 40:1-11

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 30:27-31:9; Revelation 3:1-22

"A voice cries: ‘In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain." (Isaiah 40:3-4)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

When John the Baptizer was asked who he was, he pointed to this verse from Isaiah. So, how did he change the la...

December 14, 2025

Today's Reading: Matthew 11:2-11

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 30:15-26; Revelation 2:1-29

"Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?" (Matthew 11:3)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

John the Baptizer has been faithful since before he was born. John leapt in his mother Elizabeth's womb in greeting when Jesus visited inside Mary before He was born. He proclaimed a baptism of repentance while dressed in camel's hair and eating locusts. He stood against Herod marrying his brother's wife, which is why he was in...

December 13, 2025

Today's Reading: Introit for Advent 3 - Psalm 85:1-2, 6, 8; antiphon: Phil. 4:4-5

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 29:15-30:14; Revelation 1:1-20

"You forgave the iniquity of your people; you covered all their sin." (Psalm 85:2)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

The Introit for tomorrow comes from Psalm 85, but there's a part of many psalms that we don't bother with very often. If you open up your Bible to Psalm 85, you will see at or maybe even before verse 1 these words: "To The Choirmaster. A Psalm Of The Sons Of Korah." Who is...

December 12, 2025

Today's Reading: Jude 1-25

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 29:1-14; Jude 1-25

"I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints." (Jude 3b) 

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

The letter from St. Jude, also known as Thaddeus, to the Church is short. But in it, the apostle sees that false teachers are twisting God's Word, and people are following after them. He reminds the Church that this is not the first time this has happened. I...

December 11, 2025

Today's Reading: Catechism - Table of Duties: To Youth

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 28:14-29; 1 John 5:1-21; 2 John 1-13; 3 John 1-15

"Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’ Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you" (1 Peter 5:5–6)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

You will hear the word 'vocation' a lot in Lutheran circles. It means...

December 10, 2025

Today's Reading: 1 John 4:1-21

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 26:20-27:13; 1 John 4:1-21

"Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world." (1 John 4:1)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

False prophets don't come with warning labels. They do not advertise that they are wolves dressed as sheep. They may not even intend to do harm, but that doesn't stop the harm they cause. There are a lot of things in this world called...

December 9, 2025

Today's Reading: Romans 15:4-13

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 26:1-19; 1 John 3:1-24

"For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope." (Romans 15:4)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

I've sometimes heard people say they like Jesus pretty well, but that Old Testament God sure sounds mean. As tempting as it is to point out that Jesus isn't always smiles and sunshine (Hello, cleansing of the temple!), it's better to find out why. If...

December 8, 2025

Today's Reading: Malachi 4:1-6

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 24:14-25:12; Obadiah 1-21; 1 John 2:15-29

"Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes." (Malachi 4:5)

"On the Last Day He will raise me and all the dead, and give eternal life to me and all believers in Christ. This is most certainly true." (End of the Explanation of the Third Article) 

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

We look forward to the coming of the Day of the Lord. A d...

December 7, 2025

Today's Reading: Luke 21:25-36

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 24:1-13; 1 John 1:1-2:14

"Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." (Luke 21:28)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Where is God? The nations are in distress, the earth roars with violence, people are fainting with fear, the powers are shaken. Where is God? My home breaks, disaster takes away what I have, fear haunts my waking moments, and the social pressure is more than I can bear. Where is...

December 6, 2025

Today's Reading: Introit for Advent 2 - Psalm 80:1, 3, 14, 17; antiphon: Isaiah 62:11b; 30:30, 29

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 14:1-23; 2 Peter 3:1-18

“Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your salvation comes.’ The Lord will cause his majestic voice to be heard, and you shall have gladness of heart. Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock! You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth. Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved! Turn again, O God of hosts! Look down from heaven, and se...

December 5, 2025

Today's Reading: Isaiah 11:1-12:6

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 11:1-12:6; 2 Peter 2:1-22

“Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.” (Isaiah 12:2)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

“Salvation” is a powerful word, but you might not use it every day. We’re more familiar with the verb “to save” and with the noun “savior,” but to say that God is our salvation is unique. Salvation is what God accomplishes and brings. The Sa...

December 4, 2025

Today's Reading: Catechism - Table of duties: To Employers and Supervisors

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 10:12-27a, 33-34; 2 Peter 1:1-21

“Masters, do the same to [your bondservants], and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him.” (Ephesians 6:9)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Well, this is an awkward bit of the Catechism to discuss in reflections geared toward youth, isn’t it? The “bondservants” described in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians can also be unde...

December 3, 2025

Today's Reading: Romans 13:(8-10) 11-14

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 9:8-10:11; 1 Peter 5:1-14

“Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed.The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.” (Romans 13:11-12)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Perhaps you remember the story of Paul Revere, the Boston silversmith who warned the...

December 2, 2025

Today's Reading: Jeremiah 23:5-8

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 8:9-9:7; 1 Peter 4:1-19

“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’” (Jeremiah 23:5-6)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

These days, there aren’t very many kings...

December 1, 2025

Today's Reading: Matthew 21:1-9

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 7:10-8:8; 1 Peter 3:1-22

“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.

Wait, how did a Holy Week reading break into December? Palm Sunday happened the week of Good Friday and Easter, not four weeks before Christmas. Maybe the Bible-reading calendar (the lectionary) goofed up! Don’t worry. This is not a...

November 30, 2025

Today's Reading: John 1:35-42a

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 6:1-7:9; 1 Peter 2:13-25

“One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (which means Christ)” (John 1:40-41)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Andrew told his brother that they had found Jesus, the Messiah. It seemed that way. They believed the Old Testament prophecies that the Messiah would come. Now, they had found Him! Except that Jesus hadn’t b...

November 29, 2025

Today's Reading: Introit for Advent 1 - Psalm 25:4-5, 21-22; antiphon: Psalm 25:1-3a

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 5:1-25; Amos 1:1-9:15; 1 Peter 2:1-12

“Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles.” (Psalm 25:22)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Advent strikes a truer chord in the Psalms. We wait for the God who has made great promises. Let me not be put to shame. By the devil, who prowls about like a lion seeking to devour me. By the world, who finds little worth in everything I call preci...

November 28, 2025

Today's Reading: Catechism: Table of Duties - To Workers of All Kinds

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 2:1-22; Isaiah 3:1-4:6; 1 Peter 1:13-25

“Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, wh...

November 27, 2025

Today's Reading: Luke 17:11-19

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 1:1-28; 1 Peter 1:1-12

“[the lepers] lifted up their voices, saying, ‘Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.’” (Luke 17:13)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

Today, we celebrate the blessed and historic feast of American Thanksgiving and try to keep the sarcasm off our faces. Pilgrims and Indians ate together, got along perfectly, and avoided arguing about politics. If you sprinkle some Jesus on it, there’s a sermon in there about who you’re thankful to. The problem is, I’m bad at it. All I ca...

November 26, 2025

Today's Reading: Revelation 22:1-21

Daily Lectionary: Daniel 6:1-28; Daniel 9:1-27; Revelation 22:1-21

“Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates.” (Revelation 22:14)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

The Bible ends with hope. Christ will return soon. The faithful pray, “Amen. Come Lord Jesus,” and the grace of the Lord Jesus is with them all. If there’s that much hope, it can endure even when the evildoe...

November 25, 2025

Today's Reading: Colossians 1:13-20

Daily Lectionary: Daniel 5:1-30; Daniel 7:1-8:27; Revelation 21:9-27

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.” (Colossians 1:15)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

This is what God looks like. Jesus. And you’ll only see it here. On account of the “image of the invisible God” part. We rush to creation to find evidence of God, but can’t see anything, even if we know that even there Christ was working. Psalm 19 is right. Creation shows there is a God. It...

November 24, 2025

Today's Reading: Malachi 3:13-18

Daily Lectionary: Daniel 4:1-37; Revelation 21:1-8

“You have said, ‘It is vain to serve God. What is the profit of our keeping his charge or of walking as in mourning before the LORD of hosts?” (Malachi 3:14)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

It doesn’t seem to be going any better for the faithful than they were when Malachi wrote. We aren’t marked as the richest or most successful. We aren’t the healthiest. We don’t avoid natural disasters. It hurts down here...

November 23, 2025

Today's Reading: Luke 23:27-43

Daily Lectionary: Daniel 3:1-30; Revelation 20:1-15

“One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, ‘Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!’But the other rebuked him, saying, ‘Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.’ And he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’And he said to him, ‘Truly, I say to you, today you w...

November 22, 2025

Today's Reading: Introit for Pentecost 24 - Psalm 134; antiphon: Psalm 33:8

Daily Lectionary: Daniel 2:24-49; Revelation 19:1-21

“Come, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord,  who stand by night in the house of the Lord! Lift up your hands to the holy place and bless the Lord! May the Lord bless you from Zion, he who made heaven and earth!... Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him!” (Psalm 138:1-3, Psalm 33:8)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Psalm...

November 21, 2025

Today's Reading: Daniel 2:1-23

Daily Lectionary: Daniel 2:1-23; Revelation 18:1-24

“Daniel answered and said: ‘Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding;  he reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him. To you, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, for you have given me wisdom and might...

November 20, 2025

Today's Reading: Catechism: Table of Duties - To Children

Daily Lectionary: Daniel 1:1-21; Matthew 28:1-20

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ‘Honor your father and your mother’—which is the first commandment with a promise—’ that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life in the Earth.’ Eph. 6:1-3” (Catechism, Table of Duties: To Children)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

How does the Lord take care of you in this world—not just in your life of faith where you are...

November 19, 2025

Today's Reading: Jeremiah 38:1-28

Daily Lectionary: Jeremiah 38:1-28; Jeremiah 39:1-44:30; Matthew 27:57-66

“So they took Jeremiah and cast him into the cistern of Malchiah, the king's son, which was in the court of the guard, letting Jeremiah down by ropes. And there was no water in the cistern, but only mud, and Jeremiah sank in the mud.” (Jeremiah 38:6)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

Put yourself in Jeremiah’s shoes. Wait, maybe don’t do that. Jeremiah is standing in mud. At the bottom of a cistern. Waiting to die. <...

November 18, 2025

Today's Reading: 2 Thessalonians 3:(1-5) 6-13

Daily Lectionary: Jeremiah 37:1-21; Revelation 17:1-18; Matthew 27:33-56

“May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ. Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. … For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies.” (2 Thessalonians 3: 6, 11)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

“I...