June 21, 2026

Today's Reading: Luke 15:1-10 or Luke 15:11-32

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

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.” (Luke 15:20)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

You would expect a father to be furious with his son. First, this son asks for his inheritance while his father is still living - implying that his father is better to him dead than alive. Then, he wastes all of his father’s possessions and has the audacity to come home to his father. It’s worth noting that the son wants to beg to be his father’s servant rather than demanding his place as a son, but it is still insulting. You would expect the father to be angry with his son. But this is a parable told by Christ Jesus, and so it should be no surprise that things go differently than expected.

Notice what has happened. “While he was still a long way off,” —the father kept an eye out for his son, waiting for him to return as if he knew the man would come back. The father looks for his son. We might think he’d be waiting to give his son a piece of his mind for trashing the good things he gave him. That’s what we expect. But when the father sees his son, he feels compassion for him, not anger. He looks upon this starving, hurting son with mercy and love. And then the father runs to him. He does not wait for the wayward son to reach the house but meets him with love, hence the hugging and kissing. That’s not the expectation. No self-respecting landowner would run, especially to a disgraceful son. But to the father, this is a joyous reunion and one of celebration. The father sends for fine clothes and a feast and for merriment because his dead son is alive again; he was lost and now is found.

Our Lord tells a parable full of unexpected actions to show how God is. God sees a sinful world full of sinners who take His good gifts and abuse them. He sees a world so broken it would kill His Son. But even while we were far off, not even seeking Him, He ran to us and sent for fine clothes, reinstating us as His children. You are made a son of the Father because He has compassion on you. You are clothed with righteousness won by Christ Jesus on the cross. In your Baptism, you were made His child. You were dead in your sins, and He has made you alive.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Lord God, heavenly Father, we all like sheep have gone astray and have allowed ourselves to be led from the right path by Satan and our sinful flesh. We implore You, graciously forgive us our sins for the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Enliven our hearts by Your Holy Spirit, that we may abide in Your Word in true repentance and steadfast faith, and so continue in Your Church to the end and obtain eternal salvation; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Deac. Emma Heinz, registrar for Higher Things.

June 20, 2026

Today's Reading: Introit for Trinity 3 - Psalm 25:1-2a, 5b, 15, 20; antiphon: Psalm 25:16, 18

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

“Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. Consider my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins.” (Psalm 25:16, 18)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Loneliness hurts. Suffering hurts. Having troubles hurts. Knowing I’ve sinned hurts. Being sinned against hurts. There is a lot of hurt in this broken world. Life can often hurt.

It is such a gift, then, to realize that God gives us the psalms to pray, sing, and meditate upon. In today’s verses, we have the words we need to cry out to God. We get to admit that we are alone and bothered. We get to be honest about what is hurting us and causing us pain. We can share all that burdens us; we can call out when we feel troubled and are in need of forgiveness. We can say that we need help.

It is amazing to realize that just as God gives us these words to pray and use, He also promises to hear us when we talk to Him. In fact, He longs to hear our hurts and cares. He loves us and desires for us to bring all that we carry to Him. In fact, He would not have us carry our sins and our burdens at all. He gives them to His Son, our Savior Jesus. And Jesus willingly carries them all to the cross, where He pays for them with His life. He defeats all that is broken by defeating death. He pays the price for our sin and reconciles us to the Father. We died and rose with Jesus and are now mercied, loved, and forgiven. We pray with confidence and hope. We are not alone.

Every day, we live under the weight of sin. Luther’s Small Catechism teaches us that our Old Adam must DAILY be drowned and die; we continue to struggle with sin and sadness. And yet, the grace that we have from our loving and merciful Heavenly Father is new every morning. We remember our Baptism and cling to the promises that we have in Jesus. We have an attentive, loving, and compassionate God. He hears our prayers and fulfills His promises. We go to the Divine Service and our hope is renewed; we hear our sins forgiven, we hear of the promises and works of God, we eat Jesus’ Body and Blood. We are given good Gifts from our loving, Heavenly Father, who hears our prayers and promises to never leave us nor forsake us.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Sing praise to God, the highest good, The author of creation, The God of love who understood Our need for His salvation. With healing balm our souls He fills And ev’re faithful murmur stills: To God all praise and glory! (LSB 819:1)

Deac. Sarah Longmire, Curricula Curator for Higher Things and Director of Family Life at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Lee's Summit, MO.

June 19, 2026

Today's Reading: John 18:1-14

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

“So Jesus said to Peter, ‘Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?’” (John 18:11)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Whenever Peter is involved, I usually end up cringing, feeling embarrassed on his behalf, or trying to justify his choices (because I see myself in them). Here’s the thing. Peter always seems to try. He walks out of the boat and onto the water to Jesus…only to look down and start to panic. He declares that Jesus is the Christ…and then suggests that Jesus shouldn’t go to the cross. He’s so sure that he is going to boldly claim his connection to Jesus…only to deny Jesus three times (just like Jesus foretold). And here, in this moment in the garden, he ‘tries again.’ He cuts off the ear. Of a servant. Yikes, Peter.

And here is where I would love to try and justify Peter’s actions - all of them. ‘At least he’s trying.’ Or ‘he did his best.’ Or ‘he didn’t get things all the way wrong…all the time.’ Yeah, I don't believe these excuses either. And here’s the thing - the reality is, sinners trying…usually results in failure. We sure do try our best (well, some of the time), and yet nothing works out perfectly. Life is still usually messy. And hard. And awkward. And not quite right. Yeah, now we are starting to get it...

Look at the rest of the statement that Jesus says to Peter: Shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me? Here’s the thing. God had a plan for salvation, and it doesn’t involve us trying. There is no ‘cooperation’ or ‘partnership.’ God’s plan. God’s work. For us.

When we ‘try,’ specifically in our salvation, we are always going to be wrong. In fact, the idea that we even could try is wrong. God’s Word clearly teaches us that we were dead in our trespasses - dead things can’t try. So, what does this mean? Are we just stuck being a bunch of awkward Peters - trying and (usually) failing?

Rest, dear redeemed one. Your salvation is perfectly complete in Jesus. God the Father poured out His wrath on Jesus, and Jesus took it. Jesus died. Jesus rose. Jesus lives. For you. There is no trying or needing to try as you look in faith to Jesus. You have been reconciled. It is a gift. It is yours in your Baptism. It is yours in Jesus’ Body and Blood. So now, you do get to try - but it’s for your neighbor and it isn’t to earn anything. Out of the love and mercy that you receive from God, through Jesus, you try, and you love those around you. It won’t be perfect on this side of glory, but it will be redeemed. Thanks be to God.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Be of good cheer, for God’s own Son Forgives all sins which you have done; And justified by Jesus’ blood, Your Baptism grants the highest good. (LSB 571:4)

Deac. Sarah Longmire, Curricula Curator for Higher Things and Director of Family Life at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Lee's Summit, MO.

June 18, 2026

Today's Reading: Catechism: The Lord's Prayer - 5th Petition

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

And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. (The Fifth Petition, The Lord’s Prayer)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Jesus taught us to pray boldly. We are coming to the Father with these words ‘‘forgive us our trespasses.’ We aren’t bartering. We aren’t conjoling. We aren’t suggesting that ‘we’ll get the tab next time.’ Nope. We are begging that our sins be forgiven. We are stating it plainly: I have sins. A lot of sins. Forgive me.

It is only from the mercy of God that we can continue to live and breathe and enjoy what He has given us. Without it, we would easily succumb to the weight of shame, despair, guilt, or even arrogance that our sins would demand. When we pray this Petition, we are rightly acknowledging that we have sinned and we need something outside of ourselves to get rid of our mess.

It is such a gift, then, to know that Jesus taught us to pray this way because He knows God will hear us and answer our prayer! Jesus is our rescuer! He is the payment for our sins. He is the only one who can tell the Father: yep, that person is covered. I paid for her sins. He is one of mine, so he is one of yours.

In Baptism, your Old Adam was drowned and died; a New Man was created. You, dear saint, belong to Christ and are therefore holy before God the Father. You get to come to Him in your darkest hour and trust in Jesus’ Death and Resurrection for you. You get to pray with confidence; in Jesus, your sins are forgiven, and your prayers are heard.

It is from that overflowing well - that unending grace and mercy - that we then turn to our neighbor and forgive them, too. We trust, we believe, and, in faith, we cling to the truth that our Father hears this prayer and does indeed forgive our sins. We then turn to those who have hurt us and share it with them, too. We know the power of sin, shame, and guilt - and we declare to those who are under it: there is forgiveness. Jesus paid for that sin. You are mercied. You are loved. You are forgiven - just like I am.

Pray this Petition with boldness and humility; cling to the promises that are yours in Jesus, remembering that it is through Him that you get to approach the Father and know that His Gifts are for you. And then? Share that Good News with those around you!

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

I, a sinner, come to Thee With a penitent confession. Savior, mercy show to me; Grant for all my sins remission. Let these words my soul relieve: Jesus sinners doth receive. (LSB 609:4)

Deac. Sarah Longmire, Curricula Curator for Higher Things and Director of Family Life at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Lee's Summit, MO.

June 17, 2026

Today's Reading: John 16:17-33

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

“For the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.” (John 16:27-28)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

How amazing are these words!?! Jesus is vouching FOR US! He is claiming us before our Heavenly Father. The Creator of the world. The Holy and Perfect God. The Author of Life. This is an amazing gift.

God the Father loves YOU. YOU belong to Jesus. In your Baptism, you are covered with Jesus - holy, blameless, and perfect. When God the Father sees you, He sees His Son, our Savior Jesus, and loves. In Communion, you are given Jesus’ Body and Blood for your salvation. You are a guest at God’s Table and get to feast on His gifts!

Jesus was at the creation of the world; Jesus is the Word. Jesus knew what the cost would be once sin entered into the world. Jesus knew He would have to leave His Father, take on flesh, live a blameless life, die a terrible death, and rise again. He knew this was the plan to save sinners from eternal death. And in these verses, as He talks with His disciples before His Death, Resurrection, and Ascension, Jesus is declaring that it is going to happen. He is declaring that you are loved.

As we live in this sin-broken world, it can be hard to remember that we are loved. It seems as though all around us, everything is coming apart. We sin daily. We are daily sinned against. Something always hurts. Something always seems to go wrong. Our feelings lie to us. The world would have us focus on just today and wallow in despair. The devil would have us believe the lies that we aren’t enough. But the Truth is not found in our feelings, the world, or in the lies of the devil. We are not without hope.

In your moments of brokenness, remember your Baptism. Remember that you are not alone. You are covered by Christ and are seen by God the Father. You have the Holy Spirit, and in faith, you pray and cry out to a listening and faithful God. You are loved. Cling to the Truth, even if (and when) your feelings would want to declare something else. Be in God’s Word; rejoice in the gift that is God’s Law and Gospel for you. Remember that you have been claimed by Jesus, and God the Father rejoices that you are His.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Christ, the way that leads unfailing To the Father’s house on high, Christ, the truth that frees the captive, Christ, the life that cannot die. Mediator to the Father, Sacrifice and great High Priest: Lead us to Your heav’nly mansions, There to share Your wedding feast. (LSB 540:5)

Deac. Sarah Longmire, Curricula Curator for Higher Things and Director of Family Life at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Lee's Summit, MO.

June 16, 2026

Today's Reading: Ephesians 2:13-22 or 1 John 3:13-18

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

“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” (Ephesians 2:13)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Have you ever been excluded? Perhaps you were picked last for a game or event. Maybe your interests aren’t ones that are seen as ‘cool.’ Or maybe the issue is bigger than that. Your parents are divorced, and you always seem to be back and forth - not really able to settle into one place. Or, you have had to move away from your friends, your school, and your familiar community. Separation is hard. If you aren’t ‘in,’ then you are ‘out,’ and that is difficult.

Paul is writing to the church in Ephesus. And these words—these bold statements of inclusion—are pretty shocking. Paul is declaring that the Gospel is for Gentiles, too. He is saying that Jesus’ Blood covers all people; God’s love ties together that which was broken or segmented. He is reminding the Jews and the Gentiles that their focus needs to be on the promises of God, which are for all people. The Gentiles had always been ‘out,’ but the Jews had had their seasons of exile and separation, too. And yet now, all is united. Now, the promises have been fulfilled, Jesus paid for the sins of the whole world, and there is no need for separation anymore.

It would seem that everyone then and now would rejoice at these words. God has brought all to Himself, and there is no need to distinguish or separate. And yet, we sinners like putting each other in boxes. Whether it's by interests, looks, heritage, or some other artificial measurement that we’ve constructed, we like to compare and contrast. We want to be accepted - even if that means excluding someone else.

Repent, dear chosen ones! For God has more forgiveness than you have sin. Jesus’ Blood does indeed cover all. He has brought you to Himself - and there is room for more. Rest in your Baptism; Jesus has covered you and claimed you as His. Invite and include those around you - for God’s desire is for all to be saved. You get to look at your neighbors, even in their differences, with joy and love. God has destroyed all that would separate or keep others ‘far off.’ Share the Good News that Jesus is for all sinners - for those far off, and for you too.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

In Baptism we now put on Christ Our shame is fully covered With all that He once sacrificed And freely for us suffered, For here the flood of His own blood Now makes us holy, right, and good Before our heav’nly Father. (LSB 596:4)

Deac. Sarah Longmire, Curricula Curator for Higher Things and Director of Family Life at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Lee's Summit, MO.

June 15, 2026

Today's Reading: Proverbs 9:1-10

Daily Lectionary:Proverbs 15:1-29; John 15:12-27

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.” (Proverbs 9:10)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Have you ever had a conversation with a toddler? They are sure of everything. They know how to put on their shoes. They know how to get dressed. They know what they want to eat. They KNOW!

And yet, would you eat a meal that was prepared by a toddler? Would you feel safe with a doctor who was a toddler? You see what I mean, right? Being two or three years old does not make you an expert in, well, anything.

Here’s the truth, though. You aren’t an expert either. You may be older than two, but are you still a sinner? (Martin Luther, in the Small Catechism, invites us to consider our lives according to the Ten Commandments…how’s that going for you?) You make mistakes. You still hurt yourself and your neighbors. Age doesn’t mean maturity or expertise.

So how do we become wise? How can we know what is true? Those are great questions. And our reading today teaches us: start with God and His Word.

When we start with God, we realize that we are dependent, humble, begging creatures who, without merit or worthiness, implore their Creator for mercy. In fact, Romans 5 teaches us that we were enemies of God - we were dead - when He chose us, redeemed us, and saved us. Indeed, when we start with God, we realize that we are nothing on our own. We have no knowledge. We have no skills. We have no wisdom.

God’s Word teaches us who He is and who we are. Start there. Be reminded that God is just, compassionate, and merciful. Be reminded that He made you and sustains your body and life. Be reminded that in Baptism, you are covered by Jesus’ Blood and have been given the Holy Spirit. When you start there, you are then equipped to serve your neighbors. Rejoice as a student! Celebrate the roles you have in your family. Recognize the gifts you have to be on a team, in a class, or at a job.

Rest in the knowledge that God is God and you are not; receive what He gives and use those gifts to love those around you (whom He has also given). Wisdom is indeed fearing and trusting God.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Yea, Lord, ‘twas Thy rich bounty gave My body, soul, and all I have In this poor life of labor. Lord, grant that I in ev’ry place May glorify Thy lavish grace And help and serve my neighbor. Let no false doctrine me beguile; Let Satan not my soul defile. Give strength and patience unto me To bear my cross and follow Thee. Lord Jesus Christ, my God and Lord, my God and Lord, In death Thy comfort still afford. (LSB 708:2)

Deac. Sarah Longmire, Curricula Curator for Higher Things and Director of Family Life at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Lee's Summit, MO.

Today's Reading: Luke 14:15-24

Daily Lectionary: Proverbs 14:1-27; John 15:1-11

“And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ But they all alike began to make excuses.” (Luke 14:17-18a)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Have you ever really looked forward to a celebration or a meal? Perhaps it’s your birthday - you just KNOW that your mom is going to make your favorite foods and you will get an awesome cake; you cannot contain your excited anticipation for that day. Or maybe it’s Thanksgiving - you can’t wait to enjoy your grandma’s homemade pie and your uncle’s stuffing!

Look again at the reading for today; a banquet has been prepared. There is literally nothing to do except come! And yet EVERYONE who was invited made excuses. That seems ridiculous. Surely they know a good thing when they are given it - a free banquet! Who says no to that?

Well, let’s be honest with ourselves. How many Sunday mornings have you wished to just keep sleeping? How many times have you sat in church and thought, “Why is this taking so long?” How often have you skipped Bible study because the teacher is really boring? Repent, dear invited one. You are making excuses.

Our Lord prepares a banquet for us - a feast for us - every time we are in the Divine Service. He has equipped and called men to be our pastors; they stand in the stead of Jesus and pronounce our sins forgiven. Our Lord has given us His Word to hear, read, speak, and sing; the Word that points to His mercy and our rescue. He pours out His Blood and sacrifices His Body for our eating and drinking. Indeed, every time we attend church, we are at a banquet! We receive the most perfect, holy, beautiful Gifts from God: we are reminded of His adoption of us in Baptism, we are forgiven of our sins, and we literally feast on Jesus’ Body and Blood for our salvation.

Maybe you are still going to drag yourself to church, hurt, broken, and tired from the week. God’s Gifts don’t depend on how you feel about them - they are real and they are yours. Attend the banquet. Receive the feast that has been prepared for you. Rest where you are safe, holy, and loved.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

O Lord, since You never fail to help and govern those whom You nurture in Your steadfast fear and love, work in us a perpetual fear and love of Your holy name; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Deac. Sarah Longmire, Curricula Curator for Higher Things and Director of Family Life at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Lee's Summit, MO.