February 21, 2025

Today's Reading: John 7:1-13

Daily Lectionary: Job 16:1-22; John 7:1-13

For not even his brothers believed in him. Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always here. The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil. You go up to the feast. I am not going up to this feast, for my time has not yet fully come.” (John 7:5–8)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Are you more comfortable with the truth or with what is popular? Tough question, isn’t it? You want to say the truth, but you’re often more likely to stick with what is popular; it is easier, after all.

People fret over what Jesus will do for the Feast of Tabernacles. Its ceremonies of light and water clearly point to Jesus as the Light of the world and the One from whom living water truly comes. Will Jesus be baited into going to the place of sacrifice (the temple) early by his enemies? What is the Messiah to do? Be rash, or wait until his time fully comes?

Satan tempted Jesus for forty days in the wilderness, but that wasn’t the end of his work. He never stops. He always wants to disrupt and harm, you know this. Which is what he does here through these “brothers” of Jesus. He is trying to get Jesus to act rashly and get himself in trouble.

That is why I asked about truth or popularity. No one spoke openly of Jesus during the feast because they were afraid of the religious authorities. It was almost as if they could believe in Jesus secretly, as long as it didn’t impact their lives.

But that is where they are wrong. Confessing Christ is always a finger in the eye to this sinful world. That is what most of the New Testament is about; proclaiming Christ crucified gets you into trouble! But does that really matter? Is that the end of it?

Of course not! Jesus eventually does go to Jerusalem openly on Palm Sunday. He dies for the sin of the world, is raised to life again, and sends his disciples out to proclaim his salvation for you. This truth may not be popular, but as Jesus says a bit later in St. John’s gospel, this truth sets you free.

It will always be a struggle to be faithful in this sinful world. But because Jesus has washed that sin away in his death for you, you have the promise that he forgives your failures even when they hide the truth. So be bold; Jesus has your back.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

What is the world to me! My Jesus is my treasure, My life, my health, my wealth, My friend, my love, my pleasure, My joy my crown my all, My bliss eternally. Once more then I declare: What is the world to me! (LSB 730:4)

-Rev. Duane Bamsch, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Grass Valley, CA.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.

What makes a church "good?" Come join the fictional family as they test out eight different churches in their brand-new town and answer this question along the way. Will the Real Church Please Stand Up? by Matthew Richard, now available from Concordia Publishing House.

February 20, 2025

Today's Reading: Catechism: The Ninth Commandment

Daily Lectionary: Job 15:1-23, 30-35; John 6:60-71

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. (Luther’s Small Catechism – The Ninth Commandment)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Covet: (v.) to sinfully desire what is not yours. This is not meant to be political, but what follows is sometimes used politically. We hear that the “Top 1%” are only seeking more. That the bottom end of the income scale is in terrible shape.

But if you look around the world, the poorest Americans are richer than most of the rest of humanity. Billions of people live on around $2.00 per day. Yes, two dollars. It puts into perspective that desire for a new iPhone, doesn’t it? A new car for graduation sounds a bit…much when billions of people don’t have running water at home. I don’t say this to make you feel guilty (unless you are coveting something fiendishly right now!) but to put things into perspective.

Your neighbor is anyone on earth who isn’t you. So, how can you be a faithful Christian who loves all of your neighbors and doesn’t just think of yourself? By remembering what Jesus did for you. We can love only because Jesus first loved us. Jesus showed his perfect love for you in his life, death, and resurrection. He still shows that love in his Word, in Holy Absolution, in Baptism, and in the Lord’s Supper— Gifts freely given to you in love.

Because he piles this love and these Gifts upon you, you are able to love your neighbors near and far. You can consider how to love them both spiritually and materially by remembering how Jesus has already loved and forgiven you. Yes, Jesus will forgive your covetousness just like every other sin you bring before him in repentance.

Do you need an iced coffee every day, or could you help the local food bank with that money? Do you need another pair of sneakers (that everyone else in your class has!), or might you be able to love your neighbors by giving those dollars to the mission society your church supports?

You aren’t going to solve world poverty by giving up Starbucks and Vans, but that’s not the point. Instead, focus more on your neighbors than yourself. Love those around you as you can and as you are able with the love of Christ, and that will help you to think less about what you want and more about your family in Christ.

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. Duane Bamsch, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Grass Valley, CA.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.

What makes a church "good?" Come join the fictional family as they test out eight different churches in their brand-new town and answer this question along the way. Will the Real Church Please Stand Up? by Matthew Richard, now available from Concordia Publishing House.

February 19, 2025

Today's Reading: John 6:41-59

Daily Lectionary:Job 14:1-22; John 6:41-59

“I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” (John 6:48–51)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen

Bread that brings life to the world. That’s what Jesus is, the source of life and sustenance for people who hunger, for people in need. These days, with our suspicions about gluten and refined carbohydrates, it can be hard to see simple bread as something so important for life. But that is exactly who and what Jesus is: the foundation of life itself.

Elijah ate bread brought by the angel and went forth in that strength for forty days. The Israelites lived on manna all throughout their wilderness wandering, bread also given by God.

Even though this miraculous Old Testament bread fed and sustained them, it didn’t last. The Israelites died, and Elijah eventually found food elsewhere. For us, though, that bread pointed to the importance of Jesus as the living bread from heaven. Our ears are already tuned to the sound of God’s Gift of bread being given to feed us.

And the fantastic thing about this bread is that it doesn’t come in only one form. You don’t only find it upon the altar in the Sacrament. Jesus gives us a bread that we eat with our mouths and with our ears. He doesn’t restrict his life, your life, to one source only, but he gives it in many ways.

Baptism, Holy Absolution, Holy Scripture, the preached Word, the Supper. Christ Jesus never wants you to go hungry, so he gives his bread, his life, his Gifts, in many ways so that you will never be hungry for a lack of it, and so that it is always available in your time of need.

This bread is given to you in faith, the living faith created in you by the work of the Holy Spirit. You receive it in faith as well, knowing that the good and gracious Gifts of God, especially the Gift of his Son Jesus for you, will keep and strengthen you throughout all your days.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Praise the Father, who from heaven To His own this food has given, Who, to mend what we have done, Gave into death His only Son…Let this food your faith so nourish That its fruit of love may flourish And your neighbor learn from you How much God’s wondrous love can do. (LSB 627:4, 10)

-Rev. Duane Bamsch, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Grass Valley, CA.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.

What makes a church "good?" Come join the fictional family as they test out eight different churches in their brand-new town and answer this question along the way. Will the Real Church Please Stand Up? by Matthew Richard, now available from Concordia Publishing House.