Reflections

April 20, 2026Today's Reading: Ezekiel 34:11-16Daily Lectionary: Exodus 33:1-23; Luke 7:1-17“I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep.”  (Ezekiel 34:15a) In the Name of Jesus. Shepherds. Israel's history is full of them: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. When Jacob moved his family to Egypt, they were segregated to Goshen because Hebrew shepherds were considered an abomination to the Egyptians (Genesis 46:34; cf. 43:32). Moses and David were shepherds (Exodus 3:1; 1 Sam 17:34-36). Joshua would shepherd Israel so that “the congregation of the LORD may not be as sheep that have no shepherd” (Numbers 27:17; cf. 1 Kings 22:17; Ezekiel 34:5). Additionally, the prophets, particularly Ezekiel, speak of Israel's kings as shepherds. Most of these king-shepherds abused the flock. King Ahab was one of the worst in the Northern Kingdom, and Manasseh was one of the worst in the Southern Kingdom. The children of Israel were like sheep without a shepherd. These king-shepherds did not strengthen, heal, and bind up the weak and sick. Instead, they ruthlessly subjected them. Preyed on them. Exposed them to wild beasts.   Ezekiel correctly makes the case that Judah's shepherds consumed their flock instead of feeding it. Instead of protecting, they slaughtered. Instead of gathering, they scattered. Consequently, the LORD takes His stand. He will “destroy” and “feed” the voracious-feeding-themselves “fat and strong” unfaithful shepherds “in justice.” They will get what they want as their punishment for their stubborn unbelief, corruption, and unrepentance. In addition, the LORD Himself promises to do what Israel's predatory shepherds will not and cannot do. He will be Israel's shepherd. “I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out … I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep.” He will rescue and gather the scattered. He will “feed them with good pasture” – even on the mountain heights. He will “seek the lost … bring back the strayed … bind up the injured, and … strengthen the weak.” Connect the dots. Ezekiel 34 is to the Old Testament what John 10 and Luke 15:3-7 are to the New Testament. Jesus— Immanuel / God with us— is the Good Shepherd of Ezekiel's prophecy! God the Father sends His only-begotten Son “to seek and save the lost” (Luke 19:10). David was both “shepherd” and “prince” of Israel. As such, David prefigures Jesus, who is the greater salvational Shepherd-King! So, when Jesus identifies Himself as “the good shepherd,” He categorically proclaims Himself as the fulfillment of Ezekiel's prophecy. And in Good Friday sacrificial love for you, His sheep, He “lays down his life” (Jn 10:15) and then takes it up again on Easter Sunday (Jn 10:17-18) to win your salvation by His blood as the sacrificial lamb who “takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).  In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Good Shepherd Jesus, continue to shepherd and pasture us in Your kingdom as we live in and from our Baptism as You repent, faith, and lead us in Your Word. Amen.

April 19, 2026Today's Reading: John 10:11-16Daily Lectionary: Exodus 32:15-35; Luke 6:39-49“I am the Good Shepherd.” (John 10:11a) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Sheep need a shepherd. Sheep depend on a shepherd who will lead, provide, and protect. Otherwise, sheep wander, get lost, and in their lostness can be easy prey for the wolves.Isaiah says: “all we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned – every one – to his own way,” (53:6). It is as if we were in a race to see who could rebel and sprint from God the fastest! Green pastures? Still waters? Soul restoration? Righteous paths? Guiding presence in the very deep shadow of death? Comforting rod and staff? A banquet table? A divine home? No thanks! We will go it alone! We will be independent and self-sustaining. We will follow every false path. We will chase down every poisoned weed and lap up every polluted puddle. And to top it off, we will put ourselves under a hired hand, who doesn't give a farthing about us. He will let us do anything that floats our boats. And we won't even notice the hireling as he hightails it as the wolf creeps, snarls, and attacks. This scenario of sheep insisting on their own waywardness will not end well. It will end hellishly! Damnationally!  So it is time to repent. Turn from such sinful straying. Turn from going our own independent way. And then be turned to THE GOOD SHEPHERD – the Lord Jesus Christ in faith who does what it takes to salvationally find and rescue us, His wandering sheep, so that we will be totally dependent on Him. Why? Because “the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep … I lay down my life for the sheep.” He is preaching His Good-Friday-on-the-cross death. This is the only death that atones for all sin, including yours. Here is the bottom line. Your salvation as a sheep all boils down to dependency. Or to put it quite bluntly: you cannot save yourself, no matter how hard you try. You need THE GOOD SHEPHERD, Jesus, the Bishop of our souls (1 Peter  3:25), who laid down His life into death – His Good Friday death on the cross FOR YOU. Dependent on Good Shepherd Jesus, we listen to His voice that categorically proclaims: “I died and rose FOR YOU. At My Table, I give you My Body and Blood, and I promise all your sin is forgiven. You're in my flock. I've got you.” To which faith-full sheep say: “Amen. Thank you. Thank you, Jesus!” In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Almighty God, merciful Father, since You have wakened from death the Shepherd of Your sheep, grant us Your Holy Spirit that when we hear the voice of our Shepherd we may know Him who call us each by name and follow where He leads; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

April 18, 2026Today's Reading: Introit for Easter 3 - Psalm 33:1, 18-20; antiphon: Psalm 33:5b, 6aDaily Lectionary: Exodus 32:1-14; Luke 6:20-38“Truly the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love,” (Psalm 33:18)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Jesus Christ is risen from the dead! Alleluia! “Shout for joy in the Lord, O you righteous! Praise befits the upright. Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre; make melody to him with the harp of ten strings! Sing to him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.”The Lord looks down from heaven. He has visited His people, and He has seen your struggles, and heard your cries. He is not a God who watches, but a God who steps in and cares for His creation. Our prayer is that God would continue to bring His enemies to nothing.The Psalmist's petitions are heard and answered by God, and our prayers are heard and answered also. In the beginning God spoke, and it came to be. God came down from heaven and visited His people. God is not absent from creation. He hears you, and His eyes are upon you. You are one whom God the Father created in His image. One whom God the Son, Jesus, died and redeemed by His blood. You are a new creation of water and the Spirit in your Baptism.We endure the days and times of this life because God has conquered His enemies, and our enemies we have only for a time. We wait for the Lord. We call upon His Name, which He has revealed to us. He is our help and our shield. Let your heart be glad in Him. You can trust in His holy Name. “​​Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you.”In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Christ, who shared our mortal life And ended death's long reign, Who healed the sick and raised the dead And bore our grief and pain: We know our years on earth are few, That death is always near. Come now to us, O Lord of Life; Bring hope that conquers fear! (LSB 552:1)

April 17, 2026Today's Reading: Luke 6:1-19Daily Lectionary: Exodus 31:1-18; Luke 6:1-19“And Jesus said to them, ‘I ask you, is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?'” (Luke 6:9)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Jesus takes them to task. The scribes and the Pharisees throw the Law in His face; they try to catch the One whom the very words concern that they might accuse Him. When you try to trap God with the Law, you will only leave withered and defeated.The scribes and Pharisees leave angered. The man with a withered hand leaves restored.Jesus restores the fallen creation. This being revealed in the withered man's hand. Jesus isn't a savior of symbolic brokenness or object lessons. He's the savior of sinners, who cannot save themselves. Jesus confronts the Pharisees with the law, challenging them to face the reality that they cannot save themselves according to it. They hardened themselves against Him and sought to find a way to deal with Jesus even more.The man with a withered hand comes as he is. No way to hide his suffering. He goes to where God's word is read, and where the One who is the fulfillment of that word happens to be.Go to where God has promised to be. In His Word preached, for you. Church is where we who are broken by the Law come before God, not seeking to trap Him to our demands or convince Him we've done our best. It is where we lay ourselves bare and say, “God be merciful to me a sinner.”Through absolutions proclaimed, sermons preached, water poured, and bread and wine distributed, the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation are given for you. The God of sinners restores them, heals them, binds them to Himself in His Son Jesus, and the means He initiated to call, gather, and enlighten you to saving faith, and keep you in the one true faith until He comes again.No tricks or traps with Jesus. He heals your diseases, binds your wounds, and forgives your sins. Thanks be to God, He has died, He has risen, and will come again.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.“You shall observe the worship day That peace may fill your home, and pray, And put aside the work you do, So that God may work in you.” Have mercy, Lord! (LSB 581:4)

April 16, 2026Today's Reading: Catechism: Creed First ArticleDaily Lectionary: Exodus 25:1-22; Exodus 25:23-30:38; Luke 5:17-39“All this He does only out of fatherly divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness in me.” (Luther's Explanation of the First Article of the Apostles Creed)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.God does all of it. ALL OF IT. Only out of fatherly divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness in me.Stop trying to take the workload from Him. He's got the whole world in His hands. He gives daily bread to everyone, yes, even to all evil people. He sent His Son to be God and man that we would be like God. There's nothing you could give to God, or complete for God, that would even compare.The problem is that we give half-heartedly, and our merit is worthless. Our mercy is half-hearted and short-term, and goodness is brief. God gives all that we need to support this body and life. All of it. God is the giver, and the doer, and the fulfiller because he knows that we cannot give, and do, what He desires. God is the merciful Father who makes up for our fathers' failings, and our own. We don't deserve Him, and He doesn't deserve us.Yet He sends His Son to die for us poor, miserable sinners, without any merit or worthiness in me.Thanks be to God that He does all of it. ALL OF IT. His Fatherly divine goodness and mercy is revealed in His Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. He is my heavenly Father, and I am His dear child. Remember this, dear baptized child of God. You are His, and He will not leave you, nor forsake you. He has done everything for your good that you would know you have a merciful God, a Father in heaven, a Son who saved you, and the Spirit who comforts you.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.We all believe in one true God, Who created earth and heaven, The Father, who to us in love Has the right of children given. He in soul and body feeds us; All we need His hand provides us; Through all snares and perils leads us, Watching that no harm betide us. He cares for us by day and night; All things are governed by His might. (LSB 954:1)

April 15, 2026Today's Reading: Exodus 24:1-18Daily Lectionary: Exodus 24:1-18; Luke 5:1-16“And Moses took the blood and threw it on the people and said, ‘Behold the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.'” (Exodus 24:8)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Why talk about the blood of the covenant during Easter? That's how the people of Israel could approach God. They were sinners, and God is holy. God cannot dwell where unholy sin is. So He instructed Moses to cover them in the blood of the covenant that their sins would be covered. And all God's people said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.” Amen.The sacrifice must not have taken. Those sinners did not do all that the Lord has spoken, and they were not obedient. Neither have we. We deal with the same rebellious streak that the people of Israel did. God is still holy, and we are still sinners. God cannot dwell where unholy sin is.So God provides the sacrifice, His Son, His only Son, whom He loved, Jesus of Nazareth.Jesus takes the sins of our sinful, rebellious idolatry, becomes that sinful rebellious idolatry, and covers them in His blood of the New covenant poured out on the cross as the once and final sacrifice. The people of Israel received the blood, heard the words and promises of God, and, while imperfectly trusting in them, God is merciful. He forgives, He gives life, and He saves them from themselves, their enemies, death, all of it. God does it all by the blood, and proclaims in the life-giving promise of the One who would shed His blood for the sins of the whole world.The Blood of Jesus satisfies the Law's demands, and God's wrath dies with Jesus the crucified. Where all sin dies. God raises His Son from the dead, bearing the marks of His once for all sacrifice that all would believe and be made sons and daughters of the King who took His throne of the cross, rose from the dead, and ascended into heaven to His Father's right hand. That His blood would be on us and all the people, and that by it we would have life in the One who died.Christ is Risen! Alleluia!In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Sin, disturb my soul no longer: I am baptized into Christ! I have comfort even stronger: Jesus' cleansing sacrifice. Should a guilty conscience seize me Since my Baptism did release me In a dear forgiving flood, Sprinkling me with Jesus' blood? (LSB 594:2)

April 14, 2026Today's Reading: 1 John 5:4-10Daily Lectionary: Exodus 23:14-33; Luke 4:31-44“For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree.” (1 John 5:7-8)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.What testimony is this that John writes? What testimony are the three, the Spirit, the water, and the blood, in agreement? This is not concerning manifesting faith within us, or that we accept the Lord Jesus into our hearts. Rather it is this, “The holy Evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke, and St. Paul write: Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said: “Take, eat; this is My body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me.” In the same way also He took the cup after supper, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”The Spirit points to the One who died, whose side poured out water and blood that brings life for all who receive them. You receive this life-giving testimony in your Baptism and are given a new identity through the washing of the water and the Word. In Baptism, you receive the Holy Spirit, who brings you who were dead to faith in the testimony concerning your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Through water and the Spirit, you are given new life and a Savior who is with you through all weakness, pain, and even death. There with you, leading you from this life, through death, to eternity.He gives you His Body and Blood, which is given to you through His Word, and bread and wine. To strengthen and keep you all the days of your life. That's what these three are for. Because it is not by your reason or strength that you are saved, that you have faith, or that you endure. Rather, it is by these three that unite you to the One who endured and has overcome death and the grave, and so shall you. These three testify, and these three agree. By them, you are united with your Lord Jesus now, and just as He died and rose again, so will you. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Water, blood, and Spirit crying, By their witness testifying To the One whose death-defying Life has come, with life for all. (LSB 597:1)

April 13, 2026Today's Reading: Ezekiel 37:1-14Daily Lectionary: Exodus 22:20-23:13; Luke 4:16-30“Then he said to me, ‘Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord.” (Ezekiel 37:4)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. We cannot imagine the horror Ezekiel felt in the valley of dry bones. God dropped Ezekiel there in that valley of despair, well past being clean among all that death. Ezekiel followed God, listened, and proclaimed the Word of God to those dry bones. Jesus still does this today. He takes a son of man and drops him where the church has called him to serve. Some in the valley, some on a mountain or hilltop, some in the city, suburbs, or country. Different scenery, yet as the son of man is led around, he notices all the dead, dry bones. In fact, he feels this dryness in his own bones as he dwells among them. This son of man, horrified at the death within him and with the death witnessed around him, is led by God to care for and serve those who are at that place. These sons of men are God's pastors and preachers, just like Ezekiel, and they listen and proclaim the Word of God to those dry bones. “The Lord says…so I prophesied as I was commanded.” The preachers see bone to its bone, and flesh and skin come upon them. Word preached, water poured, Body and Blood given under bread and wine. Breath prophesied, and the breath came into them, and they lived. The son of man God sent into that valley of dry bones does this work week in and week out, that God would raise these dry bones and strengthen them to stand and live according to the Word of their God, who gives them breath and life. This is the life of the church. This is your life, how God kills and makes alive. God preaches through His man called to you, and through that proclamation, through the Gospel joined to simple means, you have life and salvation. “And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I am the Lord; I have spoken, and I will do it, declares the Lord.”In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Alleluia, alleluia! Oh, to breathe the Spirit's grace! Alleluia, alleluia! Oh, to see the Father's face!Alleluia, alleluia! Oh, to feel the Son's embrace! (LSB 491:4)

Today's Reading: John 20:19-31Daily Lectionary: Exodus 20:1-24; Luke 4:1-15“but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” (John 20:31)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The eleven have seen the Lord. Thomas doubted, witnessed, confessed, and believed. Peace be with you, the disciples are ordained into ministry, the crucified and risen Word made flesh breathes on them the Holy Spirit. That Holy breath that gives life to God's creation. The ministry these eleven disciples will enter in is not about being a good person or making sure everyone goes along to get along. This ministry will deal with life and death. So Jesus breathes on them and charges them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” Men, sent by God in His place to forgive sins. That's the ministry these disciples would enter into. They would not be alone. God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit would be with them and with the church. God the Father would care for them as He always has, God the Son would intercede at His right hand, and the Holy Spirit, the comforter, would proceed from the Father and the Son to point the bride, the church, to her Bridegroom, Christ Jesus. That by the marks from His hands and His side, she would be made whole to endure all the world throws at her. Those disciples saw and bore witness, Thomas doubted, witnessed His resurrected Lord and His God, and believed. Blessed are you who have not seen and yet have believed, as our Lord says. Who have received the Holy Spirit in the waters of your Baptism, who have been united to the one whom they have pierced, with nails and spear, and are nourished with the blood that flowed from His very side and strengthened by His body, given and shed for you. For the forgiveness of sins. Of course, Jesus did many other signs that are not written by John, but these things are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing in Him you may have life in His Name. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Almighty God, grant that we who have celebrated the Lord's resurrection may by Your grace confess in our life and conversation that Jesus is Lord and God; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. (Collect for the Second Sunday of Easter)

Today's Reading: Introit for Easter 2 - Psalm 81:1, 7a, 10, 16b; antiphon: 1 Peter 2:2aDaily Lectionary: Exodus 19:1-25; Hebrews 13:1-21“I am the Lord your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.” (Psalm 81:10)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.“Sing aloud to God our strength; shout for joy to the God of Jacob! Raise a song; sound the tambourine, the sweet lyre with the harp. Blow the trumpet at the new moon, at the full moon, on our feast day.” For Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! Asaph was a Levite, a member of David's court. The words of this psalm open to us the scriptures, giving us certainty of who God is, what He has done, and continues to do for His people. The people of Israel are described as stubborn, as those who do not listen or submit to God. Yet God conquers their enemies, delivers them from the land of Egypt. Despite their unfaithfulness and constant idolatry, God continues to care and deliver them. The same is true for us. We have seen all that God has done for us, and yet we still sin much and deserve nothing but God's wrath and punishment. We cannot, by our own reason or strength, believe in Jesus Christ as our God and Lord, or even come to Him. So God becomes the doer, the rescuer, the redeemer of us His people.  God comes down, that ancient Word that gave life to all flesh, puts on human flesh. The Word made flesh comes down, begotten of His Father, born of woman, to subdue our enemies of sin, death, and the devil. He does this not with gold or silver, but with His holy and precious blood by His innocent suffering and death. What is left for us to do then? Die. That's all we can do. God sees our stubbornness, our stopped-up ears, our sin and brokenness, and He overcomes them. His holy Law adjusts our stiff necks, and opens our ears, it kills our sinfulness, our very broken bodies, and kills all free will and go-getter attitude we might bring to the table. All we can do in history towards God is die. That's exactly what God does. He comes, and He dies to the Law in our place, bearing our sin that He might raise us the dead up and declare us His holy people. There's nothing we contribute. We die to sin, and are raised to new life. This is a daily reality we live in, that we would remember the God who brought His people out of Egypt, who fed them, and delivered them. God does the same for us. He does the redeeming, the saving, the life-giving, the absolving. We die to sin in our baptisms daily, and emerge in the daily resurrection to receive our daily bread. That we might receive the bread of life to fill us with the life that we will know fully on the Last Day. We are stubborn and unworthy, so we do all we can do is die. Yet united to our Lord and Savior Jesus, who came down, bore the cross, and rose again. We too shall rise.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Help us to serve you evermore with hearts both pure and lowly; and may your Word, that light divine, shine on in splendor holy that we repentance show, in faith ever grow; the pow'r of sin destroy and evils that annoy. O make us faithful Christians. (LSB 647:3)

Today's Reading: 1 Corinthians 5:6-8 or 1 Corinthians 15:51-57Daily Lectionary: Exodus 18:5-27; Hebrews 12:1-24“The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:56-57)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Behold! Jesus Christ is risen from the dead! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!Paul tells of a mystery. A mystery that will unfold at the fullness of time, at the sound of the trumpet. The perishable will put on the imperishable. Your mortal body must put on immortality. On the Last Day, Christ will return and raise you and me, and all the dead, and the words of the prophet Hosea that Paul writes to them will be fulfilled.A timeless truth, the promise Hosea proclaimed was as good as fulfilled when God spoke it to His prophet. In Jesus, that promise is fulfilled. In Jesus, death is swallowed up by His death; in Christ's victory over the grave, death is overcome. Death's sting is no more.In Jesus, God's promises are fulfilled. In Jesus, the Law of God is satisfied. Death is swallowed up forever, sin has no power over you, and the Law is silent towards you. In Jesus, the victory is won; God's timeless truths foretold by His prophets of old, by His apostles, and to you by His preachers are true and effective for you still today.In Holy Baptism are united to this truth, and the reality of the perishable putting on the unperishable, your mortal body puts on the immortality of Christ Jesus your Savior who you are united as baptized children of God through the water that washed you and claimed you from the sting of death, In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Nothing for you to do according to the Law, truly a mystery that is proclaimed to us by God's mouthpieces from this time forth and forevermore. Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.“Laugh to scorn the gloomy grave And at death no longer tremble; He, the Lord, who came to save Will at last His own assemble. They will go their Lord to meet, Treading death beneath their feet.” (LSB 741:7)

Today's Reading: Job 19:23-27Daily Lectionary: Exodus 17:1-16; Hebrews 11:1-29“For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth.” (Job 19:25)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Job endured the cross God had laid on him. That sure didn't seem fair. Yet Job is not without hope; he knows that God has not abandoned him. Job had everything taken away from him. Lives of his children and wife, his own health, and his fortune. Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness had died and left Job for dead. Yet sitting down in the midst of such darkness, Job bears his cross and knows God is with him. His God is with him, even through the worst of times, through the worst of friends, through the darkness; God is there.Job's words were written; they were inscribed in a book. That by reading Job's words, you would believe that Jesus is the Christ, and that by believing in Him, you, as Job did, would have life in His Name. Job's words—written with iron, or lead, engraved in rock, or ink engraved on paper, forever.It is in Job's suffering that He sees how much he has lost, and yet it is in that suffering that he makes that great confession, “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth.” Job knew he was a sinner, deserving nothing. Yet, despite losing everything, he had not lost God. “And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. My heart faints within me!” So it was for Job, and it still remains true for us today. Though we suffer and bear crosses laid on us by God, though we live in an unfair world, we are not without hope. We who deserve nothing better than Job, who no man was like, who feared God and turned away from evil cling to the God who lays the cross, and at the proper time when my skin has been destroyed we may see the God who also took on flesh, who suffered, who wept, who cried out, took up His cross and died.The God who suffers and dies is Jesus of Nazareth, your Redeemer who rose again, and lives and reigns at the right hand of His Father. He will stand upon the earth at the last, and you who suffer, who have conquered as a baptized child of God, joined to your Redeemer, will rise, live, and serve Him in His Kingdom for all eternity. It's not fair, yet it is glorious. Christ is risen, He is risen indeed! Alleluia!In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Jesus, my Redeemer, lives; Likewise I to life shall waken. He will bring me where He is; Shall my courage then be shaken? Shall I fear, or could the Head Rise and leave His members dead? (LSB 741:2)

Today's Reading: John 21:1-14Daily Lectionary: Exodus 16:13-35; Hebrews 10:19-39“That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, ‘It is the Lord!' When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea.” (John 21:7)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.They went fishing; it was Peter's idea. There were seven of them, and all through the night they caught nothing. As day would break, Jesus stood on the shore, though the disciples would not know Him. This man told them to cast their nets on the right side of the boat, and they obliged. What followed was a catch so numerous that they were not able to haul it in—153 fish.John realized it first. He confessed his Lord. Peter, out of embarrassment or humility of seeing His Lord whom He denied and abandoned to the cross, hurled Himself like Jonah into the Sea of Tiberias. The other disciples bring their boat ashore, net full of fish, and as Simon Peter, son of Jonah, brings the fish to his Lord for breakfast.This was the third time Jesus had revealed Himself to the disciples after He was raised from the dead. Peter had denied Jesus as His Lord had told him he would. Peter floundered to the Sea, bringing what came from the Sea to His Lord for their meal and the conversation that would follow. Jesus would absolve and restore Peter shortly after this meal.None of the disciples asked, “Who are you?” They had no reason. Their Lord, who walked on water to them, calmed storms in front of them, and had worked a miraculous catch once before this was among them again. Peter throws himself into the Sea, and Jesus restores Him out of it. This is exactly what Jesus came down from heaven for: that Peter would die to his sin, die with his crucified Lord, and emerge from the waters of the Sea of Tiberias to be received by His Lord, to be absolved of His sins, and to take his place as apostle and evangelist. The disciples see their Lord, confess their Lord, and eat with Him. Jesus, crucified, died, and was buried, stood on the shore and revealed Himself again to His disciples in this way. That just as we die to sin, thrown into the waters of our baptisms, we rise from those waters in the reality of Christ's resurrection. Christ gives us the boat, rather the ark of His bride, the church, to keep us afloat on our baptisms. He sustains us with daily bread, nourishes us with His grace of the Gospel given through His Word joined to water, bread, and wine. That just as He has been raised from the dead, we, too, shall rise and in the reality already given in your baptisms, you will abide in His presence and rejoice with Him in eternal glory.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Almighty God, by the glorious resurrection of Your Son, Jesus Christ, You destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light. Grant that we who have been raised with Him may abide in His presence and rejoice in the hope of eternal glory; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. (Collect for Easter Wednesday)

Today's Reading: Luke 24:36-49Daily Lectionary: Exodus 15:19-16:12; Hebrews 10:1-18“As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, ‘Peace to you!'”  (Luke 24:36)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.See Jesus. When your anxieties and doubts fill your mind. When you feel your best isn't good enough, or you're at your worst. When you know you've said hurtful things, done hurt to others, and caused yourself harm. See Jesus.Jesus ate with tax collectors and sinners, talked with adulterers, healed the sick and the unclean, and associated with those unassociated members of society. Jesus called ordinary fishermen to be His disciples and taught them despite their unbelief and designs for the kingdom of God.For those disciples, Jesus appeared and stood among them. What they had done had to come to mind. They abandoned Him, betrayed Him, denied Him, witnessed His death and shame before the world as He hung on the cross. Yet they see Jesus Himself, among them, and He said to them, “Peace to you!”Then Jesus shows them His hands and His feet, inviting them to touch Him. As if a ghost stood before them to haunt them, He asks them for something to eat and ate the broiled fish they offered Him. What the women from the tomb and the men from Emmaus had said was true. He has risen!Their master stood among them. Proclaiming peace, Absolution— they were forgiven before God and man. Then Jesus opened their minds to understand all that the scriptures had written from the Law of Moses, the prophets, and the Psalms. Jesus, the crucified, fulfilled them; Jesus, the resurrected, fulfilled and proclaimed this to them, and now they, His preachers, would go and proclaim this truth to you. That you would know in your darkness, your suffering, your time of death, God is with you. See Jesus in His Word, in your Baptism, in bread and wine. These are where He comes to you, stands among you, and through your pastor proclaims, “Peace to you!” before God and man.Christ is risen indeed, Alleluia! He sees you, is with you, and has secured peace for you, and has proclaimed this to you in His Gospel promises, that trusting in Jesus, you may come at last to the Kingdom of your heavenly Father, and see Jesus.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Almighty God, through the resurrection of Your Son You have secured peace for our troubled consciences. Grant us this peace evermore that trusting in the merit of Your Son we may come at last to the perfect peace of heaven; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. (Collect for Easter Tuesday)

Today's Reading: Luke 24:13-35Daily Lectionary: Exodus 15:1-18; Hebrews 9:1-28“And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.” (Luke 24:27)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.One can only imagine the smile Jesus might have hidden from the two men on the Emmaus road as He asked them “what things” had occurred in Jerusalem. The two men were shocked. This stranger walking with them had to be the only man who had not seen, not even heard of, the events that had happened in Jerusalem in those days.So the men tell Him. Hiding that smile, Jesus speaks as only He can. “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” These men, who had been in the company of the astonished women, had no answer. Dead men tell no tales. Jesus of Nazareth showed promise, but in the end, He died.Yet it is for fools like them, for fools such as us, that Christ comes. The women did not see Him, yet they proclaimed what their eyes did see, and what their ears heard from the lips of their angel preacher. The men did see, yet they did not yet believe what their ears heard from the lips of their hidden Lord. So Jesus teaches them, opening all the Scriptures and things concerning Himself. Jesus of Nazareth, Son of God and Son of Mary, proclaims the promise of God's mighty deeds of old fulfilled in the promise of God's anointed one who would come, suffer, and on the third day rise. Yet these men still did not know who was among them. Who walked with them. So Jesus finally, perhaps, lets that smile slip a bit. “So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther…” On the night He was with those whose minds would confess their unbelief, their wonder of this man, Jesus breaks bread with them. More than that, though, He opens the scriptures to them, gives them the words of Gospel promise concerning Himself, and breaks bread and gave it to the men as He did on the night in which He was betrayed.Jesus had revealed Himself by the breaking of the bread. This would be how the Gospel would go out, from the preachers Jesus would send to His church, to teach the scriptures concerning Himself, to preach the Gospel that opens our eyes and makes us alive, and to strengthen and sustain us in the breaking of the bread, His very body for us to eat, and His true and precious Blood for us to drink. Given and shed for you. For the forgiveness of sins.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.O God, in the paschal feast You restore all creation. Continue to send Your heavenly gifts upon Your people that they may walk in perfect freedom and receive eternal life; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. (Collect for Easter Evening/Easter Monday)

Today's Reading: Mark 16:1-8Daily Lectionary: Exodus 14:10-31; Hebrews 7:23-8:13“And he said to them, ‘Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him.” (Mark 16:6)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.The Sabbath was past, and it was time to do everything as it should be according to their customs. The women bought spices to anoint the body of Jesus for his burial. They were willing to go where He had lain for three days; they were willing to make themselves unclean according to the Law of Moses to anoint their Lord's body. Like so many other times in Mark's Gospel, God emphatically intervenes. Three women had no chance of rolling away the stone blocking Jesus' tomb. They were as curious as to how they would roll the stone away as they were to see an open tomb at their tomb. No more would everything be as it should be according to their customs, according to the Law of Moses.God emphatically proclaims the Gospel through the white robed young preacher. God's anointed Jesus of Nazareth, whom they cared for; He is risen! He is not in the tomb. The messenger of God, the angel appearing as a young man, proclaims the Gospel, the Good News of the empty tomb. No more will the stench of death claim you, nor will death's sting have any power over you. No more will the Law declare you unclean. Jesus died to your sin, making them His own dying to the curse of the Law. Swallowing up death in His death, and emphatically crying out from the cross, from the empty tomb before His Father, and before these women who saw Him die, that death is no more.No more doing everything as it should be, no more would everything be how it had been. “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.” As the women ran away, trembling, astonished at this proclamation. You also go from here free, astonished at what God has done.The God who emphatically came down from heaven, taken on human flesh, ripped the heavens open at His Son's Baptism and walked among us, died for us, and rose that we, too, shall rise. The life of Jesus is your life. God emphatically unites you to Him in your Baptism. That you would be free in Christ indeed, and go into your daily life, astonished at what God has done.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Almighty God, through Your only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, You overcame death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life. We humbly pray that we may live before You in righteousness and purity forever; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. (Collect for the Resurrection of Our Lord)

Today's Reading: Matthew 27:57-66Daily Lectionary: Exodus 13:17-14:9; Hebrews 7:1-22"The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate and said, ‘Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, ”After three days I will rise.” Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, “He has risen from the dead,” and the last fraud will be worse than the first.'” (Matthew 27:62-64)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Holy Saturday can be a difficult day to reflect on, because it is the in-between time where it seems the forces of evil have won, the Lord is dead, but we can still catch a glimpse of Sunday out of the corner of our eyes. We know what tomorrow brings, and we want to jump to that. But let's sit on Holy Saturday. Holy Saturday is a day where we reflect on the victory of the powers of darkness as they gloat, celebrate, and mock. The Lord told us just yesterday that His kingdom is not of this world, so there will be many times when it appears that the world is governed only by malice and cruelty. Turning on the evening news on any given night can be a strain on any normal person's assertion that the world is governed by an all-powerful, benevolent God. There is little we see with our eyes that convinces us of the Lordship of Jesus. In a world teeming with terror, genocide, fear, and brutality, it looks like the darkness has won.  This Holy Saturday we read about was no different. The chief priests and Pharisees think they've won, and all they need to seal their victory is for Jesus to stay dead. But here Matthew gives us a glimpse into the victors' mindsets. Even while victorious, they are afraid. They remember Jesus' promise that after his death, he would rise in three days, and instead of finding hope in that promise, they find a threat. Frightened, they do everything they can to protect themselves from what they assume will be a mere mythologizing of Jesus. On the surface, it seems perfectly rational: wait three days, let everyone see Jesus was speaking nonsense, and move along as if nothing happened. As if nothing has changed. It's a logic that makes sense on Saturday, when Jesus is still cold in his grave. Unlike the chief priests and Pharisees, however, we know the rest of the story. We know what's coming. We know how foolish their logic will look in the daylight tomorrow. Armed with that knowledge, we can look at the Holy Saturdays in our own lives and world, where the Lord seems silent, absent, defeated, and know that the gloating will not last the morning. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Oh perfect life of love! All, all, is finished now, All that He left His throne above To do for us below. (LSB 452:1)

Today's Reading: John 18:1-19:42Daily Lectionary: Exodus 12:29-32; 13:1-16; Lamentations 5:1-22; Hebrews 6:1-20; Psalm 22“Jesus answered, 'My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.'” (John 18:36)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.It is a remarkable declaration for God incarnate, whose Lordship extends into all creation, that his kingdom is not of this world. With this statement, he does not deny his kingship to Pilate; instead, he explains its character. I'm sure this was a baffling statement to Pilate, who certainly would have understood kingship through the lens of strength and power. If you had the power to prevent your capture and execution, of course, you would use it. What person wouldn't? Jesus is telling Pilate that his capture and imprisonment aren't a sign of the weakness of his kingship, but rather that earthly power is not the measure of his kingship. Most kings measure their power through armies, wealth, and raw power. Governments still operate this way today, forming alliances when possible and projecting strength against potential enemies. Survival is about strength. This is so deep in our psyche, such established common sense, that it is easy for Christians to even approach the church's activity in the world this way. It is easy to imagine that the church must always build alliances to consolidate its strength, wield its power to ward off perceived enemies, and do all these things in the name of protecting Jesus. Yet Jesus shows Pilate, and us, a better way. The Lord of all creation, who is about to lay down his life of his own accord, shows power in weakness. What is the cross but ultimate weakness? The Romans and religious authorities certainly looked at Jesus, dead on the cross, and felt they'd won a victory over this strange group of disciples. They had put an end to this folly by exercising their worldly power, leveraging it against a threatening teacher. They assumed Jesus's kingdom was of this world, that it would perish with him, and that what they saw with their eyes was all there is. This is the only way the powers of this world can operate. They do not have eyes to see the kingdom that is not of this world; the kingdom that is powerful in weakness, that strengthens the downtrodden, that liberates the captives, gives sight to the blind, that raises the dead. This world's kingdoms will always think they have the last word in death and destruction, unaware they've already been cast down from their thrones by the One who will always have the last word. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Sing, my tongue, the glorious battle; Sing the ending of the fray. Now above the cross, the trophy, Sound the loud triumphant lay; Tell how Christ, the world's redeemer, As a victim won the day. (LSB 454:1)

Today's Reading: John 13:1-15 (34-35)Daily Lectionary: Exodus 12:1-28; Lamentations 4:1-22; Hebrews 5:1-14; Psalm 31“He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, ‘Lord, do you wash my feet?' Jesus answered him, ‘What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.' Peter said to him, ‘You shall never wash my feet.' Jesus answered him, ‘If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.' Simon Peter said to him, ‘Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!'” (John 13:6-8)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Today is Holy Thursday, the day Jesus institutes the sacrament of the Lord's Supper. Yet, today's reading comes from the only one of the four gospels that doesn't record the institution of the Supper, instead highlighting Jesus washing the disciples' feet. Many traditions, from Amish to Anglicans, take this so seriously that they also practice foot washing, symbolizing humility and service to one another, as part of their worship. It can be a beautiful and intimate practice, and there's nothing wrong with emulating it; in fact, Jesus says in verse 15 that he has given us an example to follow. However, it would be easy to be so caught up in the action of foot-washing that you could miss what Jesus is trying to teach his disciples, and by extension, us, through this reading. Jesus tells Peter that what he is doing now will be understood by them later, pointing through the veil of death to his eventual resurrection. In the light of the coming Sunday, all things will be made new, but first they must rest in the mystery of what is happening today. Jesus further elucidates to Peter that the action of washing is meant to demonstrate that only those Jesus has washed can have any share of Him. Surely, he does not mean only the twelve men in the room with him, those able to physically submit to his foot washing. No, he is pointing to a larger reality: the dirt of our sin must be, and can only be, washed by Him. We cannot wash away this sin with just plain water, but rather water that is included with God's command and combined with God's Word. Just as bread and wine alone will not forgive our sins, but combined with God's Word and promise, they cleanse us. In faith, we can recognize this merciful Gift of God. Instead of responding defensively, as Peter initially does, declaring the lunacy of our Lord and Savior serving us in such a way, we can see our need for it, and joyously allow the Lord's mercy to wash each corner of our lives. Not just our feet, but our heads and hands also. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Now have I found consolation, Comfort in my tribulation, Balm to heal the troubled soul. God, my shield from ev'ry terror, Cleanses me from sin and error, Makes my wounded spirit whole. (LSB 620:6)

Today's Reading: Luke 22:1-23:56Daily Lectionary: Exodus 10:21-11:10; Lamentations 3:1-66; Hebrews 4:1-16“‘Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.' Peter said to him, ‘Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.' Jesus said, ‘I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.'” (Luke 22:31-34)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Exorcism and possession are popular topics for media in our age, which seems to have moved from outright secularism to acceptance of all spiritualities. In the popular imagination, these possessions culminate in a violent and dramatic force of wills between a protagonist and a demonic entity. Fiction makes it seem as if we must either use our own strength to battle the darkness, or employ some secret knowledge, or sometimes invoke the name of Jesus, like an ancient protection spell. But this text shows us what is really going on behind the curtain of the spiritual world. Here, Jesus directly tells Peter that Satan demanded possession of him, and instead of responding with fear, trembling, or even trust in Jesus, Peter makes a declarative statement about the strength of his own faith. Peter is certain he would never fail in his love for Jesus. He is certain about the strength of his own faith. Luke doesn't tell us here how Peter responded to Jesus's disclosure. I wonder if Peter argued with him? I suspect he did. Luke does tell us a few verses later that Jesus was, of course, correct in his prophecy, and Peter weeps bitterly as he understands his own betrayal in light of Christ's words. How foolish he must have felt, first to declare his certainty, then to be explicitly warned by Jesus, and yet still fall into denying him three separate times! But Peter's story here gives us hope. The Word of Christ will so often call us back from our own sin, our own failings, the temptations that we have fallen into, and have spent days, months, or years justifying. The realization of our deep failings, in light of Christ's love and mercy, can feel like a deep betrayal of all we have been called to be in this world. Yet we do not have to rely on the strength of our own faith, the purity of our love and devotion, or anything within us to keep us in the love of Christ. Rather, we can look to Him who thwarts the devil's demands with His Word, His action, His Body and Blood for all who trust in him.  In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.If my sins give me alarm And my conscience grieve me, Let Your cross my fear disarm; Peace of conscience give me. Help me see forgiveness won By Your holy passion If for me He slays His Son God must have compassion! (LSB 440:5)

Today's Reading: Mark 14:1-15:47Daily Lectionary: Exodus 9:29-10:20; Lamentations 2:1-22; Hebrews 3:1-19“Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betray him to them. And when they heard it, they were glad and promised to give him money. And he sought an opportunity to betray him.” (Mark 14:10-11)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Judas sought an opportunity to betray Jesus for money. It's easy to give Judas a bad rap, after all, what kind of fool betrays his beloved teacher after giving up everything to follow him for three years? But is Judas so far removed from us? Are his actions that illogical? Why give up everything for someone who keeps turning everything on its head, upsetting norms, and infuriating powerful people? Would any of us want to be in the crosshairs of powerful rulers just because of our proximity and faithfulness to the teacher? Especially one who seems to have everything backwards? Why not just cut your losses, get a little money out of it, and carry on with the rest of your life? There is a certain logic to Judas's thinking. Sin can often be quite logical. Sometimes we like to sugarcoat our sin, talking about it like a trap we fell into accidentally, as if that somehow removes our culpability. Surely, we are better than Judas. Perhaps our evil is passive, like those things we confess on Sunday morning that we left undone. Certainly, there is a way in which sin can tempt us to blindness, laziness, or apathy, so we just fail to act appropriately. We don't usually see the ways that we actively seek out ways to sin. We don't see the ways we betray Jesus.This betrayal comes to us cloaked in our own self-justifications; the myriad ways we excuse, explain, and dismiss our sins. There are many times we'd rather be righteous in the eyes of men than humble at the feet of Jesus. We would like to find sensible ways to work in his kingdom, ways that look like winning. We'd like the approval of the religious power brokers and the esteem of our colleagues. We want comfort and assurance in everything but the words of Jesus. This can leave us, like Judas, looking for a different way, a shortcut, a more comfortable path. We do not avoid the path of Judas by wrestling with our own willpower, our own desire to betray Jesus for a simpler road. Instead, because we know our Lord and his mercy and grace, we confess these sins, bring them to Him, and look to the comfort of his word and promises to guide our steps through the narrow way. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.What is the world to me With all its vaunted pleasure When You, and You alone, Lord Jesus are my treasure! You only, dearest Lord, My soul's delight shall be; You are my peace, my rest. What is the world to me! (LSB 730:1) 

Today's Reading: John 12:1-36 (37-43)Daily Lectionary: Exodus 9:1-28; Lamentations 1:1-22; Hebrews 2:1-18“His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him.” (John 12:16)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.The ministry of Jesus subverts expectations so often that it is almost a cliché. Throughout his ministry, those whom you expect him to condemn, he instead commends; those you expect him to reject, he instead joins for a meal. This happens so often that Jesus is directly criticized for it. It's no wonder that this can all get a bit confusing, even for Jesus's closest disciples. Judas Iscariot has been following Jesus for three years, and there are a lot of ways his response makes sense. He seems really concerned with the priorities of Jesus, so he asks him a fair question (John 12:4-5). It's completely reasonable that wealth should be spent on the poor rather than vain annointings. How often do we have these very same types of questions in our own churches?  Yet, Jesus tells us that in His Kingdom, the poor are rich, the weak are strong, the last are first, but it is still confusing when we encounter the realities of God's economy. How often have we looked back and seen God's merciful hand at work in our lives? Understood how He was with us through a difficult path we had to tread, when it looked and felt like we were all alone? Perspective is a valuable thing, and sometimes that perspective is gained through retrospection, that is, looking at the past and seeing it through the lens of a God who is busy making all things new. At other times, even with the benefit of hindsight, we cannot see how God is working, how it is good, or evidence of His mercy in our lives. It is okay; even then, we're in good company, as the disciples did not understand many of the things of Jesus' ministry, despite witnessing it with their own eyes and having Him there to explain it. But what gives them the key to understanding? The glorification of Jesus. What do they mean by the glorification of Jesus? Looking ahead to verses 27-36, we see that the Father is glorified in the crucifixion of Jesus. Our eyes can only behold the crucifixion as shame and condemnation, but with eyes of faith, in the light of the resurrection, we can see that in the cross, there is glory. In the cross is victory over sin, death, and the devil, reconciliation of the world to the Father, which is the ultimate outpouring of His fatherly divine goodness and mercy. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Ride on, ride on in majesty! In lowly pom ride on to die. O Christ, Thy triumphs now begin O'er captive death and conquered sin. (LSB 441:2)

Today's Reading: Matthew 26:1-27 or Matthew 27:11-54Daily Lectionary: Exodus 8:1-32; Psalm 118; Hebrews 1:1-14“Then Jesus said to him, ‘Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?'” (Matthew 26:52-53)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.It's a response that makes sense to all of us. Of course, we would defend Jesus when evil men, armed with false charges, come to arrest the only One who could be called truly good. Matthew doesn't tell us who draws the sword, but John spills the beans and names Peter. Poor Peter is so often caught between his devotion to his Lord, his impulsiveness, and his all too human fear. A lot of people feel like they can relate to Peter wanting to do the right thing, but falling flat on their faces. Here, Peter reacts out of love but also fear. Jesus' rebuke to Peter is not simply about some pacifistic ideals, though we would do well to consider our willingness to live and die by our modern swords; it is also a fierce reckoning with who Jesus is. It is not simply that Jesus will go meekly to his arrest and eventual death in submission to His Father's will, but also that Jesus does not need Peter to defend Him. At a word, Jesus can call down twelve legions of angels. How much help is that? A legion is a unit of soldiers in the Roman army, consisting of approximately 6,000 soldiers. Therefore, twelve legions would be around 72,000 soldiers, or roughly half of the entire Roman army, composed of fierce heavenly warriors, not just men. The point is clear: if Jesus needed to be saved from arrest at that moment, he could have handled it himself. Peter was failing to submit his own plan to the will of God.I think most of us can understand Peter in this moment. We want to defend Jesus; we don't want to see him mishandled by evil men. We revile their intentions and can use this worthy impulse to justify all manner of lawlessness, hatred, violence, and even denial of the very nature of Jesus himself. It is hard for us to understand what Jesus is doing as we're left in anguish in our various Gardens of Gethsemane, but our call is to follow a crucified God who has already told us how the story will end. In that story, there is no room for fear.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Almighty and everlasting God, You sent Your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, to take upon Himself our flesh and to suffer death upon the cross. Mercifully grant that we may follow the example of His great humility and patience and be made partakers of His resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. 

March 28, 2026Today's Reading: Introit for Palm Sunday - Psalm 22:1, 7-8, 11; antiphon: Psalm 22:19, 21Daily Lectionary: Exodus 7:1-25; Mark 16:1-20“But you, O Lord, do not be far off! O you my help, come quickly to my aid!” (Psalm 22:19)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.The harvest full moon is one of creation's most profound optical illusions. As the moon comes up over the horizon, it looks daunting. The moon looks like it is bigger than the sun, and the red hue lights up the night sky. As the earth rotates and the moon rises in the sky, it begins to look smaller, and eventually, when the moon is at its peak, it looks like any other full moon on any given night. The optical illusion can be corrected by merely using your thumb extended in front of you as a point of reference when the moon is on the horizon and then again when the moon is at its peak. In both instances, the moon is the same size. It is not closer at the beginning and further away later in the night sky. The trials and tribulations of this world can make the Lord seem far away. The sinful nature can be deceitful and lead one to believe that God is present in our lives, and we have been left all alone. The feeling of solitude is where Satan, sin, and the world work to pull our eyes away from an ever-present God. In those trials and tribulations, we are left to our own rationalization, where despair can set in, and in that despair, hopelessness. God can seem very distant.Our God is not a distant God. He is not one who seems present and then appears far away. Our God is a God who is very present in our lives. In your Baptism, He has placed His name upon you. He has marked with the cross both upon your forehead and upon your heart as one redeemed by Christ the crucified. Our God is present in the Sacrament of the Altar. He is not “represented” but sacramentally united in, with, and under the bread and wine. In faith, we receive His true body and true blood for the forgiveness of sins and the strengthening of faith. His Holy Word in the Scriptures is a living, breathing document. The Scriptures are not just mere ink on paper but the Holy Word of God that reveals our Savior, Jesus Christ. Our God is not far off. He is an everlasting, ever-present God. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Stay with us, Lord, and keep us true; Preserve our faith our whole life through– Your Word alone our heart's defense, The Church's glorious confidence. (LSB 585:6)

March 27, 2026Today's Reading: Mark 15:33-47Daily Lectionary: Exodus 5:1-6:1; Mark 15:33-47 “And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?' which means, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?'” (Mark 15:34)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The final words of Christ make a declaration. Christ is truly alone with the weight of all the sins of all people from all time bearing down upon him. He has completed the requirements of the law, and now the perfect sacrifice for all mankind is finished. “Why have you forsaken me?” is uttered, and He breathes his last. He is alone and dead. His father has turned His back on Him. The few that have come to the cross stand at a distance. All that is left is to bury Him.It is not a glorious death. His death is a death of humiliation and torture. It is a bloody death filled with agony and pain. His disciples have left him but one, John. The local church leaders have stopped by to deride him and cast their insults upon Him. They truly kick Him when He is down. No mercy is shown to Him other than a bit of sour wine on a hyssop branch. Often in our lives, we are left feeling all alone. We may cry out in a similar fashion, “My God, why have you forsaken me?” Various circumstances in our lives can leave us feeling as if no one is with us. We continually hear the shallow platitudes of those around us regarding the omnipresence of God. Yet the darkness in our lives seems overwhelming. The family is still fighting. The homework is still piling up. The parents are still divorced. The slanderous remarks still spew from fellow classmates in the hallways and on social media. We are left under the weight of our sin and abandonment.It is in the sacrament of Holy Baptism that we are reminded that we are not alone. In all of the above circumstances, we see the separation and loneliness that exists on account of sin. In your Baptism, you are connected to the cross of Christ. His being forsaken by God the Father is your promise that God the Father will never abandon you or forsake you. Your Baptism is that seal, that promise that God never turns His back on you. It is not that you “were” Baptized but that you “are” Baptized. Daily, when the sins of this world bear down upon you, you can proclaim, “I am Baptized.”In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.I bind unto myself the name, The strong name of the Trinity By invocation of the same, The Three in One and One in Three, Of whom all nature has creation, Eternal Father, Spirit, Word. Praise to the Lord of my salvation; Salvation is of Christ the Lord! (LSB 604:5)

March 26, 2026Today's Reading: Catechism: Close of the CommandmentsDaily Lectionary: Exodus 4:19-31; Mark 15:16-32He says: “I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My Commandments.” (Exodus 20:5-6) (The Close of the Commandments,Luther's Small Catechism, pg. 15)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Our God is a jealous God. It is a peculiar statement. It is a characteristic of God that does not come first to our minds. We may think of God as being loving or gracious. We may think of God as being a God of wrath and a God who delivers punishment upon those who deny his existence. A God who is jealous, though, does not readily come first to our minds. Our God is a jealous God.He does not like to share. When the people of Israel were brought out of Egypt, they gathered at Mount Sinai. At Mount Sinai, God established His presence among His people. His words were very clear. He says, “I will be your God and you will be my people.” He continues with the Ten Commandments. He admonishes His people to be Holy as He is Holy. A Holy God has Holy people. Daily, sin, satan, and the world tempt us with false gods. We are continually drawn away from the one true God. Social status, friends, money, possessions, clothing styles, compete for our attention, focus, and, dare we say, worship. We worship all the secular gods by coveting and desiring more than what we have already been given. Contentment is far from our thoughts and feelings. We come full circle from the First Commandment to the close of the Commandments. You shall have no other gods. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is the only true God.In the words from Exodus, we are reminded of the two works of God the Father. In the first part, the alien work of God is revealed when He speaks of punishing the children for the sins of their fathers to the third and fourth generations. In the second part, the natural work of God is revealed when He speaks of showing love to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commandments. The epitome of His love came in the sacrificial death of His son for the salvation of mankind. We are set free from eternal damnation on account of Christ's perfect obedience to the law.  In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.All righteousness by works is vain; The Law rings condemnation. True righteousness by faith I gain; Christ's work is my salvation. His death, that perfect sacrifice, Has paid the all sufficient price; In Him my hope is anchored. (LSB 568:4)

March 25, 2026Today's Reading: Luke 1:26-38Daily Lectionary: Exodus 4:1-18; Mark 15:1-15“And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.” (Luke 1:31)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Merry Christmas! We are just a few days away from Palm Sunday and Holy Week. We are concluding the 40 days of Lent, and we hear those words that are far from our thoughts and lips. Merry Christmas! It is a strange greeting indeed to hear or read. It is, of course, March 25th. We are 9 months out from the celebration of the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. The words of the Christmas greeting do not roll off our tongue and lips with the same excitement as they will in 9 months. We have hesitation in those words as they are reminders of a season of joy. The end of the season of Lent tends not to be a joy-filled time. We are almost to the cross. Our reflection and meditation on our need for a savior began back at Ash Wednesday when the ashes of last year's palm branches were placed on our heads. Now, on this day, we pause to reflect on the Annunciation of our Lord. The visitation of the Angel Gabriel with Mary, the mother of our Lord.The visitation remembered during Lent is a stark reminder of why Jesus was conceived. The incarnation of our Lord is a profound teaching regarding God the Son becoming flesh. The incarnation is important enough that it is included in all of our creeds that we confess. In the Second Article, we confess, “He was conceived by the Holy Spirit.” Incarnation theology is one of the core components of our salvation. At that very moment, conception, He became man. He became human. The Son of Man and the Son of God now dwells in the womb of the blessed Virgin Mary. The Holy, Holy, Holy God is human.In His humanity, the perfect sacrifice comes into the world. True man and True God. It will be the sacrifice of human flesh for the redemption of human flesh. No other human could fulfill what was necessary for our salvation. Our deadness, our separation from God in sin, could only be restored through the incarnate Word, Jesus Christ (John 1:14). Incarnation language is foreign to the secular world this time of year. We as confessing Lutherans boldly speak of the incarnation, because in the incarnation is the final sacrifice for our sins.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.O Lord, as we have known the incarnation of Your Son, Jesus Christ, by the message of the angel to the virgin Mary, so by the message of His cross and passion bring us to the glory of His resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. (Collect for the Annunciation of our Lord)

March 24, 2026Today's Reading: Hebrews 9:11-15Daily Lectionary: Exodus 2:23-3:22; Mark 14:53-72“But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come…he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.” (Hebrews 11a, 12)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.The author of Hebrews presents the work of Christ through one of the threefold offices Christ fulfills—the office of the priest. The priestly role in the Old Testament provided the sacrifices for the people of God. The life of the priest revolved around the temple and pointing the people of Israel to the coming Messiah. In the sacrificial system, blood was shed, poured, and sprinkled upon the altar, upon the people, and upon the priests themselves. The work of the priest was very bloody. As Christ fulfills the office of priest, the work is very bloody. The blood is not of male goats or bull calves, but by his very own blood. He enters into the holy place once for all. No longer do priests need to sacrifice animals. The final sacrifice is complete in Christ. Eternal redemption is secured for you.Many churches in mainline Christianity speak of making sacrifices in order to appease God. We hear in podcasts, reels, memes, and various social media platforms the necessity to give up something so that your faithfulness can be demonstrated. We are inundated with the subtleties of self-righteousness every day. During the season of Lent, this perspective is amplified as more and more denominations diminish the work of Christ and lift up the work of man. Today, as we bend the knee in the Divine Service to receive the Body and Blood of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament, it is not a re-sacrifice of Christ. We participate in the resurrected Christ as His body is placed in our mouth and His blood is poured over our lips. The benefit of His sacrificial work is given to us. It is not that He is sacrificed again each time in the sacrament. He was sacrificed and now lives and reigns. The resurrected Jesus comes to you from the altar in the Sacrament of the Altar, forgiving your sins and strengthening your faith. The Holy Priest brings you the secured redemption from His shedding of blood on the cross. The sacrificial work of the priest is done. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.The body of God's Lamb we eat, A priestly food and priestly meat; On sin-parched lips the chalice pours His quenching blood That life restores. (LSB 624:6)

March 23, 2026Today's Reading: Genesis 22:1-14Daily Lectionary: Exodus 2:1-22; Mark 14:32-52“Then God said, ‘Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.'”(Genesis 22:2)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Abraham is asked to make the ultimate sacrifice. He is asked to sacrifice his only son, whom he has waited years to receive. Now God says you are to sacrifice him. We know the whole narrative of Abraham and Isaac. Abraham takes Isaac and leaves for the region of Moriah. Abraham binds Isaac and is about to slaughter his son when the Lord intervenes and commands Abraham to do him no harm. Behind them is a ram caught in a thicket, which is then sacrificed instead of Isaac. Abraham names the place, “The Lord will provide.” On that mountain, the Lord provided the sacrifice. As we spend the final week of Lent reflecting on our sins and the need for those sins to be reconciled, we are drawn to a mountain. On Calvary, Christ is sacrificed for the sins of the world. Without the sacrifice, we would perish eternally. In our sinful condition, we are not merely broken; we are dead. We are cut off from God the Father. As Jesus goes to the cross, He carries the sins of the whole world to the cross. He who knew no sin became sin for us. He is the substitute for us. God the Father provides the final sacrifice for your sins. As Jesus speaks those final words, “It is finished,” a declaration is made that there are no more sacrifices needed. The work of redemption is done through the blood of Christ. Abraham untied his son and sacrificed the ram that the Lord provided. The Lord nailed His son, Jesus, whom He loved and was well pleased with, to the cross that we may be set free from the bondage of sin and eternal damnation.You are set free from eternal damnation and bound to the inheritance given to you through Christ's work of redemption. You are baptized into the name of Christ, and you are baptized into His death. If you are Baptized into His death, you are also Baptized into His resurrection. No longer can sin, satan, and the world say you are lost. You are set free in Christ!In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.If my sins give me alarm And my conscience grieve me, Let Your cross my fear disarm; Peace of conscience give me. Help me see forgiveness won By Your holy passion. If for me He slays His Son, God must have compassion! (LSB 440:5)

March 22, 2026Today's Reading: John 8:(42-45) 46-59Daily Lectionary: Exodus 1:1-22; Mark 14:12-31“Jesus said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.'” (John 8:58)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Jesus' interaction with the “Jews who believed in him” (John 8:31) comes to a boiling point in the temple. He is accused of having a demon, and He accuses the Jews of being in league with satan, the father of lies. He calls them liars. The volley of words goes back and forth until Jesus speaks very plainly in their language regarding who He is and His relationship to Abraham. Jesus says, “...before Abraham was, I AM.” When Jesus speaks those words in John 8, he speaks of His deity and His everlasting presence. He is not merely man, but rather He is true God. He was before Abraham because He was at the beginning. He is present in their midst, and He will always be. He is from everlasting to everlasting. Two simple words, I AM, that drive His hearers to the point that they pick up stones to kill him.As we approach the final week of Lent, we are on a journey to the cross. The cross where Jesus Christ, true God and true man, died for the sins of the world. We know what is coming in these final weeks of Lent. We will ride into Jerusalem with Christ on the donkey. We will shout Hosana and honor Him as our King by waving and laying down palm branches and cloaks. Yet as lifted up on the cross, only a handful of people are present. The rest of His loyal followers have scattered.The Old Adam does not believe in the deity of Christ. Our sinful nature wants to pick up those stones and kill Jesus. In sin, we deny the divinity of Jesus and attribute our existence to ourselves. Our pride, our self-righteousness, stirs our hearts to see ourselves as our own god. Christ's response to this separation is not to leave us flailing about in our own damnation. A reconciliation has taken place. As Christ is lifted up on the cross, His blood is shed for our redemption. It is not just human blood, but it is the “I AM's” blood that is poured out for His people. His side is pierced, and water and blood burst from His side. Your Baptism connects you to the cross of reconciliation and the forgiveness of sins. Your savior is more than just flesh and bones. Your savior is the “I AM.” In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Almighty God, by Your great goodness mercifully look upon Your people that we may be governed and preserved evermore in body and soul; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen (Collect for the 5th Sunday in Lent)

Today's Reading: Introit for Lent 5 - Psalm 43:3-5; antiphon: Psalm 43:1-2aDaily Lectionary: Genesis 49:29-50:7, 14-26; Mark 14:1-11“Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling!” (Psalm 43:3)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Tomorrow we enter Passiontide - the final two weeks of the Lenten season. The light and truth of God's Word have guided us through this season, reminding us of all that Jesus has done for us as we prepare for the joy of Easter. But before we get there, the light and truth of the Word lead us to the holy hill of Calvary—to the cross of Jesus. To see the horrible consequences of our sin, but even more, to see the incredible love of Jesus in laying down His life for us.So, the light and truth of God's Word first show us our sin. And we confess, I am a poor, miserable sinner. I am by nature sinful and unclean. I have sinned in thought, word, and deed, by what I have done and by what I have left undone. I am not good. Without Jesus, I am dead in my trespasses and sins. That's why Lent starts with the ashes of death and ends with the cross. The wages of sin is death.But the light and truth of God's Word doesn't leave us there, cast down in death! The ashes of death are washed off us by Baptism, and we go to the altar of God with exceeding joy, because the Body and Blood that once hung on the cross rose from death and are now given to us for forgiveness and life. Even during Lent, we do not go about mourning. No, we praise God even as we confess our sins, for by so doing we are confessing the one whose forgiveness we take refuge in. Whose resurrection won the victory over sin, death, and Hell.So it is the light and truth of God's Word that lead us to Lent and through Lent to Easter. And it is the light and truth of God's Word that leads us through this life to the great and final Easter when Jesus comes again in glory. Until that day, Jesus defends us, delivers us, and leads us, and we take refuge in Him, praise Him, and hope in Him. For He is our salvation and our God.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.My son is love unknown, My Savior's love to me, Love to the loveless shown That they might lovely be. Oh, who am I That for my sake My Lord should take frail flesh and die? Here might I stay and sing, No story so divine! Never was love, dear King, Never was grief like Thine. This is my friend, In whose sweet praise I all my days Could gladly spend! (LSB 430:1, 7)

Today's Reading: Catechism: Tenth CommandmentDaily Lectionary: Genesis 47:1-31; Genesis 48:1-49:28; Mark 13:24-37Urge them to stay and do their duty. (Small Catechism)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.I have found it helpful when trying to understand a word or concept to try to consider its opposite. So what's the opposite of coveting? Contentment. Instead of an unhealthy obsession with what I do not have, to be content or satisfied with what I do have, with what I've been given. Such contentment is a gift. And something many people want. A good picture of this might be of children on a playground. They are free to play, run, pretend, and have fun because Mom and Dad are there and provide all they need. That's true for us as children of God! Because we have a Father in heaven who created us and gave us life, His Son who redeemed us and forgives us, and the Holy Spirit who gives us the Gift of contentment. As a child of God, I am free to live and enjoy life!But sadly, we don't always live that way. We listen to a culture that encourages us to want more and more, bigger and better. To not be satisfied with what you have. What happens then is that we become slaves to our desires, unhappy, and caught up in pursuing what we don't have. That's why St. Paul calls coveting idolatry (Colossians 3:5), that is, something that takes the place of God in our hearts. And with that, Paul has “closed the loop” on the Commandments that also begin with idolatry. The First Commandment teaches us that we have a God who wants to be our God and Father, and the Tenth Commandment teaches us that we have a God and Father who wants to provide everything for us and for our neighbor. I don't have to covet what God has given my neighbor because I know He has good He has planned for me and wants to give to me. So just as I can support my neighbor in every physical need, help him to improve and protect his possessions and income, and protect his reputation, I can also urge my neighbor's wife, workers, and animals to stay and do their duty, because I know God has given them to him and will provide for me. For if God did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for me and my spiritual life, I can be sure He will also graciously give me all I need for my physical life as well (Romans 8:32). He promised!In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Heavenly Father, You have made me Your child in Baptism and made me an heir of all Your gracious promises in Christ Jesus. By Your Holy Spirit, strengthen me to forsake all covetous desires that my heart cling to You alone for all I am, all I need, and all my joy; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Today's Reading: Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23Daily Lectionary: Genesis 45:1-20, 24-28; Mark 13:1-23“So that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled.” (Matthew 2:23)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.This was the second time an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. The first was after Joseph discovered that his betrothed, Mary, was having a child that was not his. He resolved to divorce her quietly until the angel explained that Mary had not been unfaithful to him, but faithful to both him and God. And Joseph did what the angel commanded him, though it wasn't easy.Then, after Jesus had been born, an angel of the Lord came again. The child's life is in danger. Take the child and your wife and flee to Egypt. For how long? A few weeks? Months? Years? Until I tell you. And Joseph did what the angel commanded him, though it wasn't easy.Then, when King Herod was dead, the angel returned one more time to tell Joseph to go back home. Once again, Joseph uprooted his life and family and did what the angel commanded him, though it wasn't easy. St. Joseph, Guardian of Jesus.But he is not Saint Joseph because of all he did as Jesus' guardian and all the ways he kept the word of the Lord spoken by the angel, though it wasn't easy. We admire him for that. I know I've failed to do many things God has told me to do that are far less difficult than all that! But he is Saint Joseph not because of all he did for this child, but because of all this child did for him. Before Joseph began looking after Jesus, the Son of God was looking after him. Before Joseph left his home, the Son of God had left his. And though Joseph gave up much for this son, the Son of God gave up much more for him when He laid down His life on the cross for Joseph. To make him - and us - saints by grace through faith.So perhaps we could say of Joseph and Jesus, not like father, like son, but the opposite: like son, like father! What Jesus did was not because of what Joseph did, but what Joseph did was because of what Jesus did. Jesus came to fulfill all the words and promises of God, the words and promises Joseph believed. And by faith alone in those words and promises of the promised Messiah, Joseph believed what he believed and did what he did. Trusting that even though it wasn't easy, it was good. It was of God. For us and for our salvation.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Almighty God, from the house of Your servant David You raised up Joseph to be the guardian of Your incarnate Son and the husband of His mother, Mary. Grant us grace to follow the example of this faithful workman in heeding Your counsel and obeying Your commands; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Today's Reading: Mark 12:28-44Daily Lectionary: Genesis 44:1-18, 32-34; Mark 12:28-44“She out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.” (Mark 12:44b)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.When you think of role models, poor widows are not the first thing that pops into your mind. Maybe a teacher, someone who goes out of their way to help others, or someone who leads in the face of danger. In Jesus' day, the scribes would be the kind of people you looked up to. Yet Jesus says to beware of them. They are not good role models. Because while they looked good, did all the right things, and knew all the right answers, it was all a show. Their hearts weren't in it. They prayed long prayers with their lips but not their hearts. The widows they should have helped, they instead devoured. Sometimes we do that, too. Outwardly, we look good, but our hearts are filled with sin.But Jesus points to this widow. Maybe they hadn't even noticed her. She didn't look like much. But inside was the most beautiful faith! Faith that took her last two coins, all she had to live on, and gave them to God. Had she not gone to the Temple that day, no one would have missed her or her offering. But it mattered to her. So she went. And she gave. And she mattered to Jesus.As do you. That's why Jesus gave all He had for you. Not just giving all He had to live on, but His very life itself. And He gave not only more than anyone else, but more than everyone else put together, and what no one else could give—a perfectly sinless life to atone for all the completely sinful lives of the world. And while just one life for the countless lives that have lived since the creation of the world may seem as small and insignificant as the offering of the widow, the two small coins that make just a penny, like the offering of the widow, that one life was more than all other offerings. For it was given in the most beautiful faith and love. With perfect faith in His Father, and with perfect love for you. And now, Jesus gives you two little things—a little piece of bread and a little sip of wine, that don't look like much to the eye, but nothing could be bigger. There is Jesus' Body and Blood. There is Jesus and His forgiveness and all His Gifts. All you need to live eternally. So if you're looking for a role model, here's one for you! No one may notice you, and what you do may not seem to matter. But you matter to Jesus. You are precious to Him. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Jesus, thank You for giving all You are for me. Help me live in faith like this widow, knowing that You give me all I need to live on. Amen.

Today's Reading: Galatians 4:21-31 or Acts 2:41-47Daily Lectionary: Genesis 43:1-28; Mark 12:13-27“So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman.” (Galatians 4:31)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Abraham had two wives, Hagar and Sarah. Sarah was his first wife. And to Abraham and Sarah, God promised a son. Though they were old and past the age people usually have children, God promised. And they believed God. But as the years went by and still no son, they wavered. After all, God had promised Abraham a son, not Sarah. So they took matters into their own hands, and Abraham had a son by Hagar, Sarah's maidservant. But that was not God's plan! So, after many more years had passed, and Abraham and Sarah were even older, and it was even more impossible for them to have children, God came and said, “Now.” And God did something only God could do: He gave 100-year-old Abraham and 90-year-old Sarah a son—the son of the promise, Isaac.Paul uses these two women as examples. There is the world's way of doing things, and there is God's way. In the world, we are under the Law and live according to the Law. Under the Law, it's all on you. You have to do it. You have to make things right. That's how it is with school. You have to do your assignments. You have to earn your grades. It's all on you.But in the kingdom of God, things are different. In God's kingdom, we live under grace, under His words and promises. Under grace, it's not all on you; it's all on Him. God does it. He makes things right. That's what Jesus did. He was born of woman, born under the Law, to do what we could never do and to make what we made wrong, right. And He did that through His perfect life and His death on the cross. That's the message Paul preached to the Galatians, and they were born from above as children of God, children of God's promised forgiveness and love. But they were also being told by others that that wasn't good enough—they had to do more. To that, Paul said no! When God makes a promise, as He did to Abraham, He will keep it. And that's true for us children of God's promise as well, children of God through the water and word of Baptism. You did nothing there, that's all Jesus for you. And what Jesus started by grace, He will complete by grace. Jesus has set you free to live in love and joy and peace.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.By grace I'm saved, grace free and boundless; My soul, believe and doubt it not. Why stagger at this word of promise? Has Scripture ever falsehood taught? No! Then this word must true remain: By grace you too will life obtain. Amen. (LSB 566:1)

Today's Reading:Exodus 16:2-21 or Isaiah 49:8-13Daily Lectionary: Genesis 42:1-34, 38; Mark 12:1-12“Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you.'” (Exodus 16:4)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.It was supposed to be great. They were no longer slaves. God had brought them out of Egypt with His mighty arm, ten plagues, and by dividing the waters of the Red Sea. They were on their way to a better life.Except . . . they were out of food. It had been two and a half months since they left Egypt. Now suddenly the future didn't look so good. Slavery in Egypt was bad, but at least they had food to eat. They wished they had never left. So they grumbled against Moses and Aaron, but they were really grumbling against the Lord.But just as we heard yesterday, that Jesus knew how He would feed the 5,000 people, so here too, God knew how He would feed Israel. He wasn't going to let His people starve. He wasn't going to leave them on their own after bringing them out of Egypt! He knew. Even when, instead of trusting, they grumbled in doubt and unbelief. I am about to rain bread from heaven for you. Long before Jesus gave us the Lord's Prayer to pray, give us this day our daily bread, God was doing just that. It's what God does, just often in ways we don't expect. When He rained down bread from heaven, the people looked at it and said, “What is it?” which in Hebrew is man hu? That's why we call it manna.You are no less valuable and important to God than the people of Israel. He made you His child when He brought you through the water of Baptism. And He will provide for you, too, and often in ways you don't expect. Like a cross! There, God provides life through death and forgiveness through condemnation. The disciples didn't understand that at the time, but would later. So when people looked at the cross and asked man hu? the disciples would say, your Savior!Lent teaches us to fix our eyes on Jesus. That when life is tough and not turning out as we thought, we know that the one who gave His only-begotten Son for us will provide everything else we need as well. Even in man hu ways!In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Lord God, You have called Your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that Your hand is leading us and Your love supporting us; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

March 15, 2026Today's Reading: John 6:1-15Daily Lectionary: Genesis 41:28-57; Mark 11:20-33“Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted.” (John 6:11)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.I wish I had been there. Jesus fed 5,000 people with five loaves of bread and two fish. How great is that? The people there that day thought so. They all ate—all they wanted. Jesus was healing the sick and feeding the hungry. They recognized a prophet when they saw one. They wanted to make Him king. By force, if necessary. But force would not be necessary. Jesus is their king. Just not the kind of king they were thinking of. What Jesus did was pretty great, and they didn't want it to stop! But Jesus had come to do something even greater. He came to lay down His life for them. To heal them from their sin. To give them life not just here and now for a while, but eternal life. And to feed them not with bread and fish, but with His own Body and Blood.That's what we've been focused on this Lenten season. That Jesus has come to lay down His life for us, to give us life. John tells us Jesus knew what He was going to do when He asked Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” Jesus was not making it up as He went! He had only one purpose for His coming, and His feeding of the multitude that day was a foreshadowing of the even greater feeding He had come to do—to feed all people of all times and places with the Bread of Life. With Himself. So just as He did that day, we will soon hear again how Jesus took bread, gave thanks, and gave it to His disciples. But this time, He would say, Do this - keep doing this - in remembrance of Me. And they would. From that day on and to this day, the disciples and the pastors who have come after them feed us with the bread from heaven, the food that gives eternal life in the forgiveness of our sins, the Body and Blood of Jesus. So, while I wish I had been there that day, I then remember that I am! I am every Sunday, as Jesus feeds me through His servant, my Pastor. I have all I need.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Almighty God, our heavenly Father, Your mercies are new every morning; and though we deserve only punishment, You receive us as Your children and provide for all our needs of body and soul. Grant that we may heartily acknowledge Your merciful goodness, give thanks for all Your benefits, and serve You in willing obedience; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.Rev. James Douthwaite, pastor of Saint Athanasius Lutheran Church, Vienna, VA and Board Member of the Board for International MissionsAudio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.

March 14, 2026Today's Reading: Introit for Lent 4 - Psalm 122:1-2, 6, 8; antiphon: Isaiah 66:10a, 11aDaily 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!'” (Psalm 122:1)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Guess what you get to do tomorrow? You get to go to church! When I was younger, I'd ask my dad, “Do we have to go to church?” He'd always answer the same way: “No, but you get to go to church.” Do we have to go? Well, I suppose you don't. But why wouldn't you want to? You get to go to God's House and receive His Gifts. You get to go and confess your sins and have a pastor stand “in the stead and by the command” of Jesus Christ to absolve you! You get to join other believers as you sing the Kyrie, confess the Creed, and pray the Lord's Prayer. You get to sit, rest, and listen to your pastor preach a sermon that he wrote specifically for you and your congregation. You get to receive the very body and blood of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! You get to have the Lord's name placed upon you in the Benediction as you are sent back out into the world!Where else would you rather be? Sleeping in bed? Fishing? Playing soccer? Those are all nice, but they won't give you what you receive at church. You can do those things at other times. The joy you get from those things is only temporary. The joy and peace that you get at church? That's eternal. It's something that the world cannot give.Not only do you receive the Gifts of forgiveness, life, and salvation, but at church, you get the gift of family and friends of all ages. Look around and see the people that Jesus has brought into your church. Some are old, some are young. Some have been members of your church their whole life, and others have just moved into town. Whoever they are, God has brought them to you and you to them. Take the time to get to know them and treasure the moments you have together. So, the next time someone tells you it's “time to go to church,” join with King David and countless others who have prayed the words of Psalm 122: “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the LORD!'” You don't have to; you get to.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.This day, God's people meeting, His Holy Scripture hear; His living presence greeting, Through bread and wine made near. We journey on, believing, Renewed with heav'nly might, From grace more grace receiving, On this blest day of light. (LSB 906:3)Rev. Daniel Burhop, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, Reese, MI.Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.We wander through life looking for freedom, only to realize we have listened to the devil's call to serve our selves, our pleasures, and our lusts. Instead of freedom we find ourselves enslaved to sin. We wonder if we have sinned too often, too deep to ever be welcomed back to the Father's home, back into His loving embrace. Have we lost our inheritance as children of God?In this short book, author Bryan Wolfmueller digs into the popular parable of the Prodigal Son to bring hope and aid to our hurting conscience. Wolfmueller proclaims the freedom-giving Gospel that through Jesus' suffering, death, and resurrection, our place in the Father's house is secure, and forgiveness and welcome are ours in His outstretched arms. Fully Free, now available from CPH.

March 13, 2026Today's Reading: Mark 10:32-52Daily Lectionary: Genesis 40:1-23; Mark 10:32-52“And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, ‘Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.' And he said to them, ‘What do you want me to do for you?' And they said to him, ‘Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.'” (Mark 10:35-38)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Be careful what you pray for. The Bible is full of examples of God giving people what they keep asking for, even when He has told them not to ask. The people in the wilderness grumble against God, and they don't want to enter the Promised Land because they are fearful of the people who are there. They say, “It would be better for us to die in the wilderness!” And God granted their prayer. They would wander for 40 years, and when their generation had passed away, it would be their children who would enter the Promised Land.God's people wanted and begged for a king. God told them He was their King. He told them that if they had a king, the king would tax them, take their goods, and send their children off to war. They kept begging. God eventually gave them what they asked for, and the kings taxed them, took their goods, and sent their children off to war.James and John go up to Jesus and say, “Lord, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” That's bold! What's bolder is what they ask, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” They didn't know what they were asking for. Jesus' glory is when He is lifted up on the cross! Do they really want to be there? In His mercy, Jesus did not grant them that prayer.But, do you know what was there with Jesus in His glory? All of the sins of James, John, the people of Israel, and even you. If you are going to pray, pray for what the Lord has promised to give you. We don't know what we should pray for. That shouldn't stop us from praying, but it should change the way we pray. Instead of making demands, pray “Thy will be done,” and remember “God's will is done when He breaks and hinders every evil plan and purpose of the devil, the world, and our sinful nature, which do not want us to hallow God's name or let His kingdom come; and when He strengthens and keeps us firm in His Word and faith until we die.” (3rd Petition, Lord's Prayer)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Your gracious will on earth be done As it is done before Your throne, That patiently we may obey Throughout our lives all that You say. Curb flesh and blood and ev'ry ill That sets itself against Your will. (LSB 766:4)Rev. Daniel Burhop, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, Reese, MI.Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.We wander through life looking for freedom, only to realize we have listened to the devil's call to serve our selves, our pleasures, and our lusts. Instead of freedom we find ourselves enslaved to sin. We wonder if we have sinned too often, too deep to ever be welcomed back to the Father's home, back into His loving embrace. Have we lost our inheritance as children of God?In this short book, author Bryan Wolfmueller digs into the popular parable of the Prodigal Son to bring hope and aid to our hurting conscience. Wolfmueller proclaims the freedom-giving Gospel that through Jesus' suffering, death, and resurrection, our place in the Father's house is secure, and forgiveness and welcome are ours in His outstretched arms. Fully Free, now available from CPH.

March 12, 2026Today's Reading: Catechism: Ninth CommandmentDaily Lectionary: Genesis 39:1-23; Mark 10:13-31“You shall not covet your neighbor's house. What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we do not scheme to get our neighbor's inheritance or house, or get it in a way which only appears right, but help and be of service to him in keeping it.” (Small Catechism: Ninth Commandment and Meaning)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Coveting is dangerous. Jesus warns us against it when He says, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” (Luke 12:15). He tells this to the crowd around Him when two brothers are arguing over an inheritance. These brothers were on the verge of ruining their relationship over possessions. Sadly, this happens in families all too often. Why does Jesus warn us against this? Because when we covet, we set up a false idol that we think will make us whole and give us what we need. St. Paul makes this clear when he writes, “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.” (Colossians 3:5) When we want what God has not given to us we show that we do not “fear, love, and trust in God above all things” and that we have broken the First Commandment: “You shall have no other gods before me.”How do you know you are coveting? One way to diagnose coveting in your life is to consider whether you are happy when your neighbor is sad or sad when your neighbor is happy. There's a word for being sad about others' happiness. It's one you probably know well: envy. There's also a word for being happy about someone else's sadness. It's a German word that literally means “damage-joy”: schadenfreude. Sadly, we have these feelings way too often. It's okay to be disappointed that you didn't ace the test; it's evil when you delight in the fact that someone else fails. It's okay to be happy that you made the team; it's evil when you are sad that someone else made it. Envy and schadenfreude invade our lives.Why is this bad? Because when we covet, we are telling God that we don't have enough. When we covet, we are telling God that He hasn't given us what we need. Coveting destroys our thankfulness and our contentment. What's the remedy? St. Paul tells us to look at the cross: “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32). God has given you exactly what you need; the proof is there at the cross.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.“You shall not crave your neighbor's house Nor covet money, goods, or spouse. Pray God He would your neighbor bless As you yourself wish success.” Have mercy, Lord! (LSB 581:10)Rev. Daniel Burhop, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, Reese, MI.Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.We wander through life looking for freedom, only to realize we have listened to the devil's call to serve our selves, our pleasures, and our lusts. Instead of freedom we find ourselves enslaved to sin. We wonder if we have sinned too often, too deep to ever be welcomed back to the Father's home, back into His loving embrace. Have we lost our inheritance as children of God?In this short book, author Bryan Wolfmueller digs into the popular parable of the Prodigal Son to bring hope and aid to our hurting conscience. Wolfmueller proclaims the freedom-giving Gospel that through Jesus' suffering, death, and resurrection, our place in the Father's house is secure, and forgiveness and welcome are ours in His outstretched arms. Fully Free, now available from CPH.

March 11, 2026Today's Reading: Mark 10:1-12Daily Lectionary: Genesis 37:1-36; Mark 10:1-12“‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.' So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” (Mark 10:7-9)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.What is your favorite thing to see at a wedding? Is it seeing the Bride in her dress? Seeing friends and family coming together to support a bride and groom? Is it the dancing or the meal after the ceremony? Is it looking at the decorations or everyone all dressed up nice?Those are all nice, but they aren't my favorite. What I like to see at the wedding is the groom's face when the bride first comes into view. Gone from the face are the forced smiles of greeting, the nervous stress, and everything else. Instead? It's simple, pure joy. Everyone else thinks the bride is beautiful, but the groom sees her differently than everyone else. Yes, he thinks she is beautiful, but his gaze is not just one of admiration; it's one of pure love and happiness. He sees no imperfection. He sees his bride. He sees the one that God is uniting him with “in heart, mind, and body.”Why is that my favorite? Because it reminds me of the way that Jesus views us; it's the way He sees His Bride, the Church. He sees us as perfect, beautiful, and holy. There is a difference between a regular groom and Jesus, though. In a regular wedding, it is the Bride who prepares herself for the big day. She gets her hair done, does her makeup, and gets dressed to walk down the aisle as perfectly as possible. But in our marriage to Jesus? He's the one who makes us perfect.Yes, we are full of imperfections. We have sins, and shame, and grief that weigh us down. But Jesus sees us with the eyes of a Bridegroom. “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.” (Ephesians 5:25-27)The next time you are at a wedding, while you watch the bride walk down the aisle, make sure to steal a glance at the groom and see his joy. Let it remind you of the way Jesus sees you with perfect love and joy in His face.  In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Father, You created Adam, Crafted Eve, and made them one; Jesus, from their sin You saved us, As God's true incarnate Son; Holy Spirit, You forgive us; From our sins we are released. Bring us, Lord, at last to heaven, To the endless wedding feast. (LSB 860:5)Rev. Daniel Burhop, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, Reese, MI.Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.We wander through life looking for freedom, only to realize we have listened to the devil's call to serve our selves, our pleasures, and our lusts. Instead of freedom we find ourselves enslaved to sin. We wonder if we have sinned too often, too deep to ever be welcomed back to the Father's home, back into His loving embrace. Have we lost our inheritance as children of God?In this short book, author Bryan Wolfmueller digs into the popular parable of the Prodigal Son to bring hope and aid to our hurting conscience. Wolfmueller proclaims the freedom-giving Gospel that through Jesus' suffering, death, and resurrection, our place in the Father's house is secure, and forgiveness and welcome are ours in His outstretched arms. Fully Free, now available from CPH.

March 10, 2026Today's Reading: Ephesians 5:1-9Daily Lectionary: Genesis 35:1-29; Mark 9:33-50“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” (Ephesians 5:1-2)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.You don't even need to look at the scientific research (although there is much!) to know that most of a child's learning comes through imitation. Infants mimic the face movements of their parents. Little sisters and brothers learn to walk by trying to move like their older siblings and to keep up with them. We sound like our parents and the people we grew up around. The accents and inflections in our speech change when we move to a different part of the country or the world.St. Paul tells us that as children of God, we should be imitators of Jesus. We should “walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us.” What is the best way to learn how to do that? Watch Jesus! Listen to Jesus! What do we see? We see someone who is kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving!To understand Ephesians 5:1, we need to consider what comes immediately before (the word 'therefore' is a hint for us to do just that!). “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” Keep Jesus' life, words, and teachings always in mind. Pay attention as we walk through the Church Year, seeing Jesus honor His parents as He grows, love His enemies as they ridicule Him, find time for the weak and helpless as He cares for them, and give Himself up to death for the whole world.The people we listen to and watch have an impact on us. The company we keep will influence us. So, be careful about who you watch and who you listen to. Listen first to God in His Word; listen to your pastors as they preach Christ crucified for you; surround yourself with godly men and women to imitate in their lives; lean on good friends who will speak truth to you.If you want to be more kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving, watch and listen to those who have these qualities. What will you find yourself doing if these are the things you listen to and watch? You'll find yourself imitating them in your own life. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Grant us grace to see Thee, Lord, Present in Thy holy Word-Grace to imitate Thee now And be pure, as pure art Thou; That we might become like Thee At Thy great epiphany And may praise Thee, ever blest, God in man made manifest. (LSB 394:5)Rev. Daniel Burhop, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, Reese, MI.Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.We wander through life looking for freedom, only to realize we have listened to the devil's call to serve our selves, our pleasures, and our lusts. Instead of freedom we find ourselves enslaved to sin. We wonder if we have sinned too often, too deep to ever be welcomed back to the Father's home, back into His loving embrace. Have we lost our inheritance as children of God?In this short book, author Bryan Wolfmueller digs into the popular parable of the Prodigal Son to bring hope and aid to our hurting conscience. Wolfmueller proclaims the freedom-giving Gospel that through Jesus' suffering, death, and resurrection, our place in the Father's house is secure, and forgiveness and welcome are ours in His outstretched arms. Fully Free, now available from CPH.

March 9, 2026Today's Reading: Exodus 8:16-24 or Jeremiah 26:1-15Daily Lectionary: Genesis 29:1-30; Genesis 29:31-34:31; Mark 9:14-32“Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Rise up early in the morning and present yourself to Pharaoh, as he goes out to the water, and say to him, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Let my people go, that they may serve me. Or else, if you will not let my people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies on you and your servants and your people, and into your houses. And the houses of the Egyptians shall be filled with swarms of flies, and also the ground on which they stand. But on that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, where my people dwell, so that no swarms of flies shall be there, that you may know that I am the Lord in the midst of the earth. Thus I will put a division between my people and your people. Tomorrow this sign shall happen.'” (Exodus 8:20-23)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.The plagues were impressive in and of themselves. Destruction in various forms came upon the land of the Egyptians, and Moses let them know it would all happen before it did. That should have been enough. However, on top of that, God spared His Children from destruction. God “set apart” a specific area and said it would be safe, and it was. What did God have to do to protect them? Was it some great wall that He would have the people build? Was there a special prayer they needed to pray? No. God simply spoke His Word, and it was so. No flies would enter the land of Goshen. God was in command. He had all authority in heaven and on earth, so the flies did what He wanted. God uses His authority to “set apart” His people and to protect them.Long after this, Jesus took His disciples up to a mountain and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20) And then, long after that, a Pastor took you in his arms and did just what Jesus said to do. You were baptized, set apart, through water and the Word of Jesus. The Lord who commands all things with His Word spoke His Word upon you and made you His child, setting you apart. His Word now, just as then, makes it so.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.God's own child, I gladly say it: I am baptized into Christ! He because I could not pay it, Gave my full redemption price. Do I need earth's treasures many? I have one worth more than any That brought me salvation free Lasting to eternity! (LSB 594:1)Rev. Daniel Burhop, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, Reese, MI.Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.We wander through life looking for freedom, only to realize we have listened to the devil's call to serve our selves, our pleasures, and our lusts. Instead of freedom we find ourselves enslaved to sin. We wonder if we have sinned too often, too deep to ever be welcomed back to the Father's home, back into His loving embrace. Have we lost our inheritance as children of God?In this short book, author Bryan Wolfmueller digs into the popular parable of the Prodigal Son to bring hope and aid to our hurting conscience. Wolfmueller proclaims the freedom-giving Gospel that through Jesus' suffering, death, and resurrection, our place in the Father's house is secure, and forgiveness and welcome are ours in His outstretched arms. Fully Free, now available from CPH.

March 8, 2026Today's Reading: Luke 11:14-28Daily Lectionary: Genesis 27:30-45; 28:10-22; Mark 9:1-13“As he said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, ‘Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!' But he said, ‘Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!'” (Luke 11:27-28)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.What does it mean to “keep” God's Word? Indeed, there is some element of observing or obeying it. God knows what is actually good and bad for us, so when we follow God's Word, things go better for us. Things usually go better when we obey our parents than when we disobey them. If you can keep from stealing, you won't have as many troubles with the law. If you lead a chaste and decent life, your marriage will likely be smoother. If you can go without coveting, you'll be happier. Being content and happy with what God has given us is a blessing!But that's not all that it means to “keep” God's Word. Keeping it also involves guarding it and treasuring it. We guard and treasure things that are important to us. You don't want to lose your house keys or your wallet, so you keep them in a spot where you won't forget them as easily. You don't want to lose your passwords, so you choose something you can remember. You only have a certain number of hours in a day, so you guard your time to ensure you can accomplish what you would like to get done.In the same way, Jesus instructs us to guard God's Word. We should treasure it. We should place it in areas where we won't forget about it, such as near our beds or on the home screens of our phones. We should learn it by heart so that it's with us wherever we go. We should make sure to keep certain times of our day and week free for it, such as Sunday mornings for the Divine Service, a weekly time for Bible Study, and a daily time for devotions. Are we blessed because we do these things? Well, yes and no. We aren't blessed because we have somehow proved to God how faithful we are; We are blessed because that Word that we treasure is full of the promises of Jesus for you. That Word IS Jesus.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy, be gracious to all who have gone astray from Your ways and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of Your Word; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.Rev. Daniel Burhop, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, Reese, MI.Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.We wander through life looking for freedom, only to realize we have listened to the devil's call to serve our selves, our pleasures, and our lusts. Instead of freedom we find ourselves enslaved to sin. We wonder if we have sinned too often, too deep to ever be welcomed back to the Father's home, back into His loving embrace. Have we lost our inheritance as children of God?In this short book, author Bryan Wolfmueller digs into the popular parable of the Prodigal Son to bring hope and aid to our hurting conscience. Wolfmueller proclaims the freedom-giving Gospel that through Jesus' suffering, death, and resurrection, our place in the Father's house is secure, and forgiveness and welcome are ours in His outstretched arms. Fully Free, now available from CPH.

March 7, 2026Today's Reading: Introit for Lent 3 - Psalm 25:1-2, 17-18, 20; antiphon: Psalm 25:15-16Daily Lectionary: Genesis 27:1-29; Mark 8:22-38“To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.” (Psalm 25:1) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. O Lord, to You I lift up my soul. I trust in You. Yes, my life rests on You, for You are the unshakable foundation. That's what my Baptism tells me. I have been put into You, my Mighty Fortress. Sin, Death, and Satan can't crush and hush me for You have overcome these enemies by Your bleeding, dying, third-day rising. I believe this, O Lord, and yet I struggle. There are days I look around and my eyes get the best of me. It can look like Sin, Death, and Satan are in charge. O Lord, I know this is not true. You are Lord over all! Therefore, help me to walk by faith and not by sight. Open the eyes of my heart to see You as my deliverer. I'm helpless to save myself, after all, but I am not hopeless. You are my hope. This is not wishful thinking but a sure confidence that You will come through for me in Your way and Your time.  I feel alone some days, but Your promise is that You are with me always. Your promises can't fail. They will never lead me astray. You tell the truth, for You are the Truth. There's no reason, therefore, for me to ignore what I'm going through or try to cover it up with a smiley face. I can be honest since nothing can surprise You. There are troubles in my life that I can't get myself out of. Troubles that I am responsible for and those that have been brought into my life by others. These troubles teach me that I'm not in control. I ask You to consider all the sufferings and troubles I have, and please forgive me. Cover my sins with Your righteousness. Cleanse me with Your blood. Every part of my life, You have redeemed with Your blood, and I will on the Last Day get to see how You used it all for my good. I won't be able to stop smiling!       Now I wait. It's not always easy with all the pains and problems in this life. So please, Lord, guard my heart from the attacks of Satan, who wants me to give in, give up, and give out. The Cross is my reminder that You can and will deliver me from all my fears and tears. You did not stay dead but rose on Easter Morning, securing for me my own Easter Morning on the Last Day! Because You are my refuge, I can't be shaken. Nothing and no one can destroy me. I trust in You and will not be put to shame. O Lord, to You I lift up my soul.     In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. While I am a pilgrim here, Let Thy love my spirit cheer; As my guide, my guard, my friend, Lead me to my journey's end. (LSB 779:5)Rev. Aaron Schian is pastor at Grace Lutheran Church in Auburn, MI.Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.We wander through life looking for freedom, only to realize we have listened to the devil's call to serve our selves, our pleasures, and our lusts. Instead of freedom we find ourselves enslaved to sin. We wonder if we have sinned too often, too deep to ever be welcomed back to the Father's home, back into His loving embrace. Have we lost our inheritance as children of God?In this short book, author Bryan Wolfmueller digs into the popular parable of the Prodigal Son to bring hope and aid to our hurting conscience. Wolfmueller proclaims the freedom-giving Gospel that through Jesus' suffering, death, and resurrection, our place in the Father's house is secure, and forgiveness and welcome are ours in His outstretched arms. Fully Free, now available from CPH.