Reflections

July 15, 2025

Today's Reading: Colossians 1:1-14

Daily Lectionary: Judges 15:1-16:3; Galatians 3:23-4:11

“He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (Colossians 1:13-14)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

“The domain of darkness.” What a chilling description. To be where there is no light. To be where there is no hope. To be where there is no life. What a horrible place to find oneself. The depth of evil and depravity would hav...

July 14, 2025 

Today's Reading: Leviticus (18:1-5) 19:9-18

Daily Lectionary: Judges 14:1-20; Galatians 3:1-22

“You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the LORD your God.” (Leviticus 19:10b)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

As you read these verses in Leviticus, perhaps you (like me) nod your head along with God’s commands: “Yes - that is absolutely the right thing to do! Leave some for the poor. Tell the truth. Pay fair wages. Great rules, I concur!” These rules (The Commandments) are great on paper. They are abs...

July 13, 2025

Today's Reading: Luke 10:25-37

Daily Lectionary: Judges 13:1-25; Ruth 1:1-4:22; Galatians 2:1-21

“And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test saying, ‘Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?’” (Luke 10:25)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

Do you see it? Do you see how the lawyer already misstepped? 

I suppose we could start with how he *dares* to question Jesus, or that he wants to ‘put him to the test.’ But let’s talk about the biggest misstep of all—the one that all sinne...

July 12, 2025 

Today's Reading: Introit for Pentecost 5 - Psalm 136:23-26; antiphon: Psalm 136:1

Daily Lectionary: Judges 7:1-23; Judges 7:24-12:15; Galatians 1:1-24

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever.” (Psalm 136:1)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

Thanksgiving has become “turkey day” in the United States (or tofurkey day if you are vegetarian or vegan). Thanksgiving in Canada is in October (that’s different). Some people eat cranberry “stuff” from a can, and others make fresh cranberries (you will know them because they will tell you incessantly...

July 11, 2025

Today's Reading: Acts 15:6-21

Daily Lectionary: Judges 6:25-40; Acts 15:6-21

“We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.” (Acts 15:11)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

When I was a child I remember watching television with commercials! (Yes I am old). I seem to remember a number of commercials advertising different toys that all come in “assorted colors and styles.” It did not matter what the toys were, there was a variety of them. Similar yet different. Same name, dif...

July 10, 2025

Today's Reading: Catechism: The Sacrament of Holy Baptism - Second

Daily Lectionary: Judges 6:1-24; Acts 14:19-15:5

“Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” (Mark 16:16)

Second – What benefits does baptism give?

It works forgiveness of sins, rescues from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe this, as the words and promises of God declare. 

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Praise God! It works. Baptism works. This is God's grace to...

July 9, 2025

Today's Reading: Acts 14:1-18

Daily Lectionary: Judges 4:1-24; Judges 5:1-31; Acts 14:1-18

“In Lystra there sat a man who was lame. He had been that way from birth and had never walked. He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed and called out, ‘Stand up on your feet!’ At that, the man jumped up and began to walk. When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, ‘The gods have come down to us in human...

July 8, 2025

Today's Reading: Galatians 6:1-10, 14-18

Daily Lectionary: Judges 3:7-31; Acts 13:42-52

“Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

I can't focus. I'm distracted. I can't do what I want to do. I'm just trying to do my homework. I'm just trying to do my chores. No matter how much I try to check off my to-do list, my eyes always wander, and my thoughts are not focused on th...

July 7, 2025

Today's Reading: Isaiah 66:10-14

Daily Lectionary: Judges 2:6-23; Acts 13:13-41

“As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.” (Isaiah 66:13)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

You might be at an age where you do not feel like you need “comfort” from your mom or dad. If you get hurt (it is no longer a boo-boo or an owie), you can simply console yourself. You do not need mommy (or daddy) to kiss it and make it better anymore. That time has...

July 6, 2025 

Today's Reading: Luke 10:1-20

Daily Lectionary: Joshua 24:1-31; Judges 1:1-36; Acts 13:1-12

“...rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10:20b)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

Jesus sent the 72. He called them. He sent them out. There was, after all, work to be done, and lots of it. So Jesus, the Son of God, the Savior of the world, called 72 ordinary people and equipped them for service in His Kingdom. They would carry His peace. They would heal the sick, drive out demons, and have the author...

July 5, 2025 

Today's Reading: Introit for Pentecost 4 - Psalm 19:2, 4-6; antiphon: Psalm 19:1

Daily Lectionary: Joshua 23:1-16; Acts 12:1-25

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

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

When Jesus, the bridegroom, comes for His bride, the church, the heavens, and creation itself will not hold back praise. On that day, all will be restored, and creation will dwell with its Creator again forever. 

What a vivid scene. Come, Lord Jesus! While the psalmist writes, our minds read, a...

July 4, 2025 

Today's Reading: Acts 11:19-30

Daily Lectionary: Joshua 10:1-25; Joshua 10:28-22:34; Acts 11:19-30

“and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.” (Acts 11:26)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

Man needs a preacher—someone to proclaim the Law that kills and the Gospel that makes alive. A man sent by God to that place to preach and teach the Word and administer The Sacramen...

July 3, 2025 

Today's Reading: Catechism: The Sacrament of Holy Baptism - First

Daily Lectionary: Joshua 8:1-28; Acts 11:1-18

Baptism is not just plain water, but it is the water included in God’s command and combined with God’s word. (The Sacrament of Holy Baptism - First)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

If you were to look at the baptismal font without context, what would you see? An eight-sided font, perhaps, with a bowl and some water. It is nothing special and is pretty mundane when you think about it. Ye...

July 2, 2025 

Today's Reading: Luke 9:51-62

Daily Lectionary: Joshua 7:1-26; Acts 10:34-48

“And Jesus said to him, ‘Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.’” (Luke 9:60)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

Jesus has set His face toward Jerusalem, fully intent on His procession to Golgotha. The Samaritans refuse to accommodate Jesus and His disciples on account of His unwillingness to take His face from Jerusalem. James and John seek vengeance. This is Jesus, the Christ, the Son of God. How d...

July 1, 2025

Today's Reading: Galatians 5:1, 13-25

Daily Lectionary: Joshua 6:6-27; Acts 10:18-33

“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

The Galatians just couldn’t quit the Law cold turkey. They needed a fix, something to claim as theirs, and God would understand, right? God can’t really be the one who does it all—the one who forgives all my sins and sets me free—certainly not my sins. There has to be mor...

June 30, 2025

Today's Reading: 1 Kings 19:9b-21

Daily Lectionary: Joshua 5:1-6:5; Acts 10:1-17

“And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper” (1 Kings 19:12)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

“What are you doing here, Elijah?” 

Elijah is at the end of his rope. He’s been a good and faithful servant. He outran his persecutors, cared for a widow and her son, and even performed miracles. The boxes on his prophet to-do list are nearly all c...

June 29, 2025 

Today's Reading: Matthew 16:13-19

Daily Lectionary: Joshua 4:1-24; Acts 9:23-43

“Simon Peter replied, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’” (Matthew 16:16)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

What’s the point of Peter’s confession? He gets it right. Jesus is not just a reincarnated Moses or Elijah. He’s not just another religious figure with good ideas on how to be kind to one another. Jesus asks His disciples, “Who am I?” not to trap them but to reveal to them who He is. 

Peter confesses...

June 28, 2025 

Today's Reading: Introit for Pentecost 3 - Psalm 85:8-10, 13; antiphon: Psalm 85:7

Daily Lectionary: Joshua 3:1-17; Acts 9:1-22

“Show us your steadfast love, O Lord, and grant us your salvation.” (Psalm 85:7)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

When God feels far away, how would you pray to Him? What do I do when God is angry with me?

The sons of Korah ask these questions of God in Psalm 85.

Israel has endured the exile, and no one wants to endure that again. The future looks unclear, and hi...

June 27, 2025

Today's Reading: Acts 8:26-40

Daily Lectionary: Joshua 2:1-24; Acts 8:26-40

“And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.” (Acts 8:38)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

The Ethiopian Eunuch was missing something. He had worship; He had the scroll of the prophet Isaiah (Is. 53), and yet it did not make sense to him.

Now, to be clear, Philip is not the pastor who can unlock the secrets of Scripture with his wicked inter...

June 26, 2025 

Today's Reading: Catechism: The Lord's Prayer - The Conclusion

Daily Lectionary: Joshua 1:1-18; Acts 8:1-25

This means that I should be certain that these petitions are pleasing to our Father in heaven, and are heard by Him; (The Lord’s Prayer - The Conclusion - What does this mean?)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

Have you ever thought, “What if God doesn’t like what I pray for?” or “Does God really hear my prayers?”

Don’t worry—you're not alone. Doubting whether or not God hears our pray...

June 25, 2025

Today's Reading: Galatians 3:23-4:7

Daily Lectionary: Proverbs 31:10-31; John 21:1-25

“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.” (Galatians 4:4-5)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

Did Paul just say I don't need to listen to my parents anymore?

No-no. Paul said we don’t need to live captive under the Law anymore. 

What does that mean? Fo...

June 24, 2025

Today's Reading: Luke 1:57-80

Daily Lectionary: Proverbs 30:1-9, 18-33; John 20:19-31

“And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God.” (Luke 1:64)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

Zechariah’s troubling visitation has been resolved. A birth of Abrahamic proportions has occurred. Elizabeth, who was once barren, has now given birth to John. Zechariah obeys the words preached to Him by the angel, and with his mouth opened, he praises God.

John isn’t your typical child. I mean, he was born like...

June 23, 2025 

Today's Reading: Isaiah 65:1-9

Daily Lectionary: Proverbs 27:1-24; Proverbs 28:1-29:27; John 20:1-18

“I will bring forth offspring from Jacob, and from Judah possessors of my mountains; my chosen shall possess it, and my servants shall dwell there.” (Isaiah 65:9)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

Israel’s children had no idea how good they had it, and they had it all. They thought it would last forever. After all, they have everything going for them that the world did not. They had Abraham as their father; they had the temple...

June 22, 2025 

Today's Reading: Luke 8:26-39

Daily Lectionary: Proverbs 25:1-22; Proverbs 26:1-28; John 19:23-42

“Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned.” (Luke 8:37)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

Jesus and His disciples have arrived on the other side of the Sea of Galilee. The storm has been calmed, but the disciples' unbelief is less calm. Immediately as Jesus stepped out on land, He was met with a...

June 21, 2025

Today's Reading: Introit for Pentecost 2 - Psalm 71:20-24; antiphon: Psalm 71:3

Daily Lectionary: Proverbs 24:1-22; John 19:1-22

“You who have made me see many troubles and calamities will revive me again; from the depths of the earth you will bring me up again.” (Psalm 71:20)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

The psalmist sees something beautiful. God caused him to see troubles. Thanks for the calamities, Jesus! I will sing praises to you with the lyre. It’s hard to pray that without a sarcastic tone of voice. But it’s at leas...

June 20, 2025

Today's Reading: John 18:15-40

Daily Lectionary: Proverbs 22:22-23:12; John 18:15-40

“The high priest then questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. Jesus answered him, ‘I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret.” (John 18:19–20)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

Nobody pays attention to statistics. Something in us refuses to see ourselves with the crowds. We are always the outlier. People who live together before calling themselves married are 33% m...

June 19, 2025 

Today's Reading: Catechism: The Lord's Prayer - The Seventh Petition

Daily Lectionary: Proverbs 22:1-21; John 18:1-14

But deliver us from evil. 

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

It’s dark down here. There’s a lot of evil in the world. It’s one of the rare places we can agree with the atheists. The difference is that we can find an evil one, the devil, stirring the pot. We can label the roots of so many of the evil things men do to each other in the 10 Commandme...

June 18, 2025 

Today's Reading: John 17:1-26

Daily Lectionary: Proverbs 20:5-25; Proverbs 21:1-31; John 17:1-26

“When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you,” (John 17:1)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

Jesus lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you.” The hour has finally come for the Son to be glorified. Apparently, that wasn’t when 5000 folks were willing t...

June 17, 2025

Today's Reading: Acts 2:14a, 22-36

Daily Lectionary: Proverbs 17:1-28; Proverbs 18:1-20:4; John 16:17-33

“this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.” (Acts 2:23–24)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

Peter preaches the best sermon I’ve ever heard. Jesus saves sinners. You’re sinners. It’s beautiful in its simplicity, but it completely shapes how to...

June 16, 2025

Today's Reading: Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31

Daily Lectionary: Proverbs 16:1-24; John 16:1-16

“‘To you, O men, I call, and my cry is to the children of man.” (Proverbs 8:4)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

There is an eternal Wisdom, begotten yet in existence before anything was. That’s kinda hard to get one’s head around. This Wisdom, involved in creation, is called a she by one known for wisdom. Which is kinda hard to get one’s head around. I honestly think the weirdest part of it all is that this...

June 15, 2025 

Today's Reading: John 8:48-59

Daily Lectionary: Numbers 35:9-30; Acts 1:1-7:60; Luke 24:28-53

“Jesus said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.’” (John 8:58)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

It's weird how happy folks were that Abraham was dead. They prefer their patriarch dead to win a fight. They have something they think is more valuable. Wealth, stability, power, ego. They’ll march over the bones of Abraham to keep it and quote the Bible while they do. Genesis 25:8. “Abraham breathed his last and died.” Jus...

June 14, 2025 

Today's Reading: Introit for Trinity - Psalm 16:8-11; antiphon: Liturgical Text

Daily Lectionary: Numbers 32:1-6, 16-27; Luke 24:1-27

Blessed be the Holy Trinity and the undivided Unity. Let us give glory to him because he has shown his mercy to us.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

The doctrine of the Trinity is not revealed by God simply to confuse or imply that God isn’t great at math. It’s given that we may know that God draws near to save us. The Father is God, the Son is...

June 13, 2025

Today's Reading: Acts 2:1-21

Daily Lectionary: Numbers 27:12-23; Luke 23:26-56

“When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place.” (Acts 2:1)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

Pentecost, 50 days after Jesus conquered death, and we figure everything’s got to be different now. The Pharisees were still running the temple. Caiaphas still offered sacrifices there as High Priest, refusing to believe he had already sacrificed the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world. The city was still under Roman occupation. The crowd s...

June 12, 2025

Today's Reading: Genesis 11:1-9

Daily Lectionary: Numbers 24:1-25; Luke 23:1-25

“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. 

Everybody wants a perfect little life. We all have a picture of it. This is how it needs to be so I can be content, happy, whole, and safe. Everybody wants the Tower of Babel. Those people were on to somet...

June 11, 2025

Today's Reading: Mark 6:7-13

Daily Lectionary: Numbers 23:4-28; Luke 22:47-71

“And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits.” (Mark 6:7)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

Jesus sends the Twelve out to preach and cast out demons. They only get to take a staff. They stay where someone will put them up; if not, it’s dust from their boots. They healed the sick and cast out demons. But when I look at this, for the lif...

June 10, 2025 

Today's Reading: John 10:1-10

Daily Lectionary: Numbers 22:21-23:3; Luke 22:24-46

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

When folks look around the sheepfold, it’s a lot easier to find the robbers than the Lord. Jesus says, “The thief comes to steal and kill and destroy.” That part, I see. That part we can’t miss. The death. The destruction. The evil that doesn’t just persist in a world of ch...

June 9, 2025

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. 

If you unpack the Bible verse everyone already knows, you find a religion nobody can fathom. It’s nothing but Jesus on the cross for sinners. It binds us together without distinction, without exception, and leaves us with a different vocabulary. All the world talks about what’s wrong...

June 8, 2025 

Today's Reading: John 14:23-31

Daily Lectionary: Numbers 21:10-35; Luke 21:20-38

“Jesus answered him, 'If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.’” (John 14:23) 

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

Jesus said, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word.” Faith, of course, is presupposed to the reader. I guess that’s good. We assume Christians believe. But also, when we take faith for granted, all that’s really left to talk about is...

June 7, 2025 

Today's Reading: John 14:8-21

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.” (John 14:16)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

The Holy Spirit is God, as much as the Father is God and the Son is God. We confess this truth every time we speak one of the Creeds. But if the Spirit is God, why don’t we give as much attention to the Holy Spirit as we do to...

June 6, 2025 

Today's Reading: Introit for Pentecost - Psalm 104:24, 27-28, 30; antiphon: Liturgical Text

Daily Lectionary: Numbers 20:1-21; Luke 20:19-44

“Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of the faithful, and kindle in them the fire of your love. Alleluia.” (Liturgical text)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

What’s in your heart? If you’re honest with yourself, most of it’s not pretty! There’s a good chance there’s some anger toward your parents or teachers in there. Probably also some jealousy to...