Reflections

Today's Reading: Small Catechism: Sacrament of the Altar

Daily Lectionary: 2 Chronicles 35:1-7, 16-25; Colossians 3:1-25

How can bodily eating and drinking do such great things? Certainly not just eating and drinking do these things, but the words written here: "Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins." These words, along with the bodily eating and drinking, are the main thing in the Sacrament. Whoever believes these words has exactly what they say: "forgiveness of sins." (Small Catechism: Sacrament of the Altar, pt.3)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The promise of the Sacrament of the Altar not just that it's Jesus' Body and Blood. His Word also tells us why it works and what it does: "Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins." Those words are full of the very promises of the Son of God who made all things.

It was the Word of God, after all, which said, "Let there be plants according to their kind: including wheat, and grapes." When the Lord spoke that Word, those things came to be. It was the Word of God which told Mary, "You will conceive in your womb and bear a Son." Sure enough, Mary conceived the Son in her womb. It was the Word which Jesus spoke, "This is my Body; this is my Blood," which gives to us His flesh and blood under the bread and wine. So it is His Body and Blood. And it is His Word that says it's for your forgiveness.

You don't receive forgiveness just because you eat and drink, but because Jesus promises that forgiveness to you. Of course, you believe that, because you eat and drink it! But it's not our doing it that makes it so. It's true and real because Jesus' words say so.

As God's people, marked by the Cross of our Savior who died and rose, and washed by the water and the Spirit, we believe things are what Jesus says they are because He's Jesus. He's the divine, eternal, Son of God in the flesh and His Word always does what it says. And what He says about His Supper is that it is for you, for your forgiveness, for you to have eternal life. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

We dare not ask how this can be, But simply hold the mystery And trust this word where life begins: "Given and shed for all your sins." ("The Death of Jesus Christ Our Lord" LSB 634, st. 5)

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor René Castillero

Today's Reading: Proverbs 4:10-23

Daily Lectionary: 2 Chronicles 34:1-4, 8-11, 14-33; Colossians 2:8-23

But the path of the just is like the shining sun, That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day. The way of the wicked is like darkness; They do not know what makes them stumble. (Proverbs 4:18-19)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Ethics. Morality. Virtue. "Good decisions." The world is full of advice on how to get through life successfully and with minimal conflict and irritation. Many people read the book of Proverbs and think that's what is being taught: a religious take on "self-help" and "worldly wisdom." But that's not it.

True wisdom is faith in Jesus Christ. It is the knowledge that apart from Jesus we are nothing but condemned sinners who have nothing and live by nothing other than our own selfishness. To have the light of Christ through faith is to acknowledge that it is God alone who saves us and gives us life and strength and patience to live life in this world.

Christians often say, "I just don't know how people survive without Jesus. Without the Bible. Without church." Sure, that sort of thought could be tweaked to remind them that our Old Adam deserves nothing but death. Yet there's some truth in that without Jesus there really is nothing but death and condemnation.

Jesus came to take away our sins. He came to shelter us from God's judgment against our disobedience. He came to give us righteousness and everlasting life. Sure, you can live in this world without those things, but that's a downward spiral that ends up in hell. And just because we have those gifts, doesn't mean our life is suddenly easy and carefree. Rather, the wisdom of faith is that we have the bigger perspective: God is the One who created us and all things and it is God Himself who sent His Son to redeem us and make all things new. That is Good News that is put upon us in Baptism and confirmed by preaching and the Supper. It's Good News and wisdom that get us through the world, not by our practicing "virtues" or "morals," but by living in the salvation Jesus gives. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Save us from weak resignation To the evils we deplore; Let the gift of Your salvation Be our glory evermore. Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, Serving You whom we adore, Serving You whom we adore. ("God of Grace and God of Glory" LSB 850, st. 4)

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor René Castillero

Today's Reading: John 12:20-33

Daily Lectionary: 2 Chronicles 33:1-25; Colossians 1:24-2:7

Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. (John 12:24)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. We take the cross for granted, as if it's not an awful symbol of death. What if the main symbol of Christianity were an electric chair or hangman's noose, or a guillotine, or a lethal injection needle? Would that be weird? The cross is exactly that: a means of execution—and a painful and awful execution at that! It's a symbol of death.

Perhaps the reason we cherish the cross as the symbol of the Christian faith is that no matter how awful, evil, painful, and terrible that death of Jesus was on that Cross, its purpose and what it accomplished was to save us from our sins, to rescue us from eternal judgment and to give us everlasting life. In other words, what was an instrument of torture and death, God Himself turned into the symbol of salvation and life.

A cross seems like a bad thing, but Jesus turns it into Good News. Jesus, obeying His Father, submitted Himself to the shame and agony of that Roman Cross in order to save you. That's not a call to feel sorry for Jesus or guilty He had to do that for you. It's simply the confession of faith that by His death, Jesus saves you.

That Cross shows up in our lives as Christians. It's traced upon you in Holy Baptism. It's put before your eyes when your pastor absolves you. It's again set before you when being dismissed from the meal of salvation at the Lord's altar. Even our churches are often built to make the Cross and what Jesus did upon it the center of our life and worship. Not only do we have many crosses in church, but the font, altar, pulpit and lectern, the main parts of the sanctuary, are often arranged so that they form the shape of a cross. The cross is the symbol of our salvation for it was upon the Cross that Jesus died to bring forgiveness and life to you. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Faithful cross, true sign of triumph, Be for all the noblest tree; None in foliage, none in blossom, None in fruit thine equal be; Symbol of the world's redemption, For the weight that hung on thee! ("Sing, My Tongue, the Glorious Battle: LSB 454, st. 4)

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor René Castillero

Today's Reading: Luke 17:11-19

Daily Lectionary: 2 Chronicles 32:1-22; Colossians 1:1-23

"Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?" And He said to him, "Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well." (Luke 17:18-19)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Do we think the other nine lepers weren't grateful or thankful that Jesus healed them? I'm sure they were! I'm sure they were ecstatic that they didn't have leprosy anymore. But Jesus isn't asking why they didn't come back to say "Thank you!" He's asking why only one came back to "give glory to God." To "give glory to God" isn't just being polite and minding our manners, and saying, "Thank you." To give God glory is to recognize that the Son of God in the flesh is God with us and He's the most important thing we need.

What this Samaritan realizes that the others don't seem to, is that if Jesus can heal leprosy, He can save sinners. He realizes that he doesn't just need Jesus to make his nasty flesh disease go away. He needs Jesus for everything, to be His Savior from sin and death.

We often do this: We cry out to the Lord to save us, fix us, help us, rescue us, deliver us. Then, when things are better or back to the way we want them, we sort of tuck Jesus away until we need Him again. The Samaritan realizes he needs Jesus all the time! His example teaches us to repent of being like those guys who just get what they want and then off they go. The Samaritan teaches us that Jesus is the true High Priest who heals us and pronounces us clean from our sins.

That's because the Son of God doesn't just cleanse leprosy, but He also takes away our sins. By His Cross and empty tomb, and His water, Word, and Body and Blood, He pronounces you clean. When He tells the Samaritan, "Your faith has saved you," it's the same as if He says, "Your Jesus has saved you. And I'll always keep saving you. Stick close!" And He always will. Now go: your faith, your Jesus, has saved you. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Keep, we implore You, O Lord, Your Church with Your perpetual mercy; and because the frailty of mankind without You cannot but fall, keep us ever by Your help from all things hurtful and lead us to all things profitable to our salvation; 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 14th Sunday after Trinity)

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor René Castillero

Today's Reading: Introit for the 14th Sunday after Trinity

(Psalm 84:1-2a, 4, 10b, 11b; antiphon: vs. 9-10a)

Daily Lectionary: 2 Chronicles 31:1-21; Philippians 4:1-23

For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. (From the Introit for the 14th Sunday after Trinity)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Where would you like to be on Sunday morning? In church? Under your covers? At a friend's house? Somewhere else doing something fun? The psalmist thinks there's no better place to be than in God's house. He'd rather be a doorkeeper (like an usher at church?) even though that's a little job in the temple, than be where the wicked are.

For Christians now, this psalm isn't just about going to a particular building. The Temple is Jesus. To desire the Temple is to desire Jesus. Better to be where Jesus is than anywhere else. After all, where else can you have your sins washed away? Where else will the Lord's herald proclaim your divine pardon? Where else will you enjoy a feast of salvation that promises eternal life? Nowhere else but where Jesus is!

Tomorrow, these words of the psalms, sung in the Introit, will drag us into God's house and lift up our heads and open our ears to the wonderful gifts that Jesus gives when we are there with Him. His Word, water, Body, and Blood, the good news of His death and resurrection to save you and the world, the joyful fellowship of fellow sinners who have been redeemed by Jesus: All these things await you in the Lord's house when you go to worship. That's better than any other place you can go! 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. ("O Day of Rest and Gladness" LSB 906, st. 3)

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor René Castillero

Daily Lectionary: 2 Chronicles 29:1-24; Philippians 3:1-21

Then he brought in the priests and the Levites, and gathered them in the East Square, and said to them: "Hear me, Levites! Now sanctify yourselves, sanctify the house of the Lord God of your fathers, and carry out the rubbish from the holy place. (2 Chronicles 29:4-5)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy all describe and detail how the services of the Lord should be held, how the tabernacle and its furniture should be built, what sacrifices were to be made, how the priests would dress and what their duties were, what feasts and festivals the people were to observe, and how the priests and people were to worship the Lord.

Once they got settled in the Promised Land, they pretty much did mostly none of that! Over time, the temple fell into disrepair and the people forgot God Himself, much less how to come and receive His gifts. King Hezekiah saw that and said, "We gotta fix this! Okay, you priests, time to get to work to clean up the temple and make it a place where the Lord's gifts are celebrated and received!"

Jesus is the true Temple, the true dwelling place of God. And in true sinful fashion, His people trashed the Temple. They slapped Him around and nailed Him to the cross. Yet the Father restored that Temple when He raised His Son to life on the Third Day!

Now, by the blood of Jesus, He cleans us up and dwells with us. Through water and the Word, and His Body and Blood, He wipes out the rubbish of our sin and dwells in us, making us living stones who together make up the holy Temple of His Body, the Church. It's quite a transformation!

Now every day is a call from Hezekiah to clean things up! Each day is a call to repentance and faith in Jesus, who lives in you and dwells among His people in His gifts. The temple was the center of Israel's worship because that's where Yahweh Himself was. Now, wherever Jesus is, He is among us with good gifts of life and salvation. You are the dwelling place of God because Jesus lives in you by grace! In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

To this temple, where we call You, Come, O Lord of hosts, and stay; Come with all Your loving kindness, Hear Your people as they pray; And Your fullest benediction Shed within these walls today. ("Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation" LSB 909, st. 2)

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor René Castillero

Daily Lectionary: 2 Kings 9:1-13; 10:18-29; Philippians 2:12-30

Then he arose and went into the house. And he poured the oil on his head, and said to him, "Thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘I have anointed you king over the people of the Lord, over Israel. You shall strike down the house of Ahab your master, that I may avenge the blood of My servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the Lord, at the hand of Jezebel.'" (2 Kings 9:6-7)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The history of Israel (the ten northern tribes that split from Judah and Benjamin) is one of wicked king after wicked king. The Lord continued to send prophets to the evil kings to call them to repentance and urge them to return to following the true God. They didn't, and they persecuted and killed the Lord's preachers, besides. When God got angry enough, He would send along the next king and usually by violence against the current king, the new one would take over. It was God's judgment on His wicked people.

God doesn't put up with sin. He punishes it. The record of Israel is a warning, but it's also a foreshadowing. When Jesus came, the Promise that He fulfilled is that He would be the guy to take all of God's anger. Bad king? May as well be Jesus! Evil deeds? Put them on Jesus! The sin of the world? Lay it on the Lamb of God. Your sins? Pile them on the Son of God. That's the deal. He gets them all so we are relieved of their burden and curse.

That's how the Lord always dealt with His people. But those who didn't want His mercy got His wrath. It's the same for those who reject Jesus. Don't want your sins on Jesus? Don't want them forgiven? Yikes! Why wouldn't you! God will let those who think like that have their way. You, however, He has called by water and Word out from under His judgment and into His life, to be a part of His family. Jesus, the good King, died like a wicked King to be King of Kings and Lord of Lords who has conquered sin and death and made you a part of His kingdom of everlasting life. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

O Jesus, King most wonderful! O Conqueror renowned! O Source of peace ineffable, In whom all joys are found. ("O Jesus, King Most Wonderful" LSB 554, st. 1)

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor René Castillero

Today's Reading: Small Catechism: Sacrament of the Altar

Daily Lectionary: 2 Kings 6:1-23; Philippians 1:21-2:11

What is the benefit of this eating and drinking? These words, "Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins," show us that in the Sacrament forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation are given us through these words. For where there is forgiveness of sins, there is also life and salvation. (Small Catechism: Sacrament of the Altar, pt. 2)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Bread, but barely. Wine, but probably not the kind that tastes good. Kneeling while the pastor gives you a wafer and a sip from the chalice. Looks like a pious ritual. What's the big deal? It's not what we see, but what the Word of Jesus says is going on. That's bread and wine which are also His Body and Blood. There is a gift there that we don't see with our eyes. It is the gift of the flesh and blood of the Lamb of God who has taken away our sins.

Are your sins forgiven? Does God really forget about all the bad stuff you've done? How do you know? How can you be sure? Have you eaten and drunk the Body and Blood of Christ? Then, yep, your sins are forgiven, because Jesus says so!

Do you have eternal life? Will you really come back to life on the last day? Is your transformed body really going to come out of the grave? Is there really a paradise in the presence of God that you will enjoy forever and ever and ever? Have you eaten and drunk the Body and Blood of Christ? Then you have life! Eternal life. Everlasting life! Because Jesus says so!

Are you saved? Do you really belong to God and not the devil? Are you really immune to everything this world throws at you so none of it can keep you from heaven? Have you eaten and drunk the Body and Blood of Jesus? Then yes, you are saved. You have salvation, because Jesus says so!

That's the gist of all this. Jesus' words give us His Body and Blood and His words tell what that Body and Blood give us. Forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation. After all, where there is forgiveness of sins, there's always life and salvation, too! In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Firmly hold with faith unshaken That this food is to be taken By the sick who are distressed, By hearts that long for peace and rest. ("Jesus Christ, Our Blessed Savior" LSB 627, st. 5)

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor René Castillero

Today's Reading: Galatians 3:15-22

Daily Lectionary: 2 Kings 5:9-27; Philippians 1:1-20

What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator. (Galatians 3:19)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. True or False: God would not have given us the Ten Commandments if we could not keep them. How you answer this question shows whether you believe in a religion of obedience that will be rewarded or a faith that clings to grace that is given to the undeserving. If we could keep the commandments, if it were possible to obey the Law and to love God and our neighbor on our own strength and willpower, then we would not need Jesus. It's as simple as that.

So if we can't keep the Law, why did God give it? Why does He tell us to love Him and others if we can't even do it? Paul tells us: He gives us those commandments to show us that we can't fulfill them, and that if we can't, we're doomed unless God Himself saves us. So the Law was given to increase our trespasses. It was given to show us that we are sinners who need a Savior.

There is a promise in the Law: Do this and you will live. But that promise is made to the Seed of Abraham, Jesus. He keeps the Law and lives. He carries our not doing the Law and dies. He lives because His blood has washed away our sins and because He has kept the Law perfectly.

Do you keep the Law? According to your sinful flesh and your sinful actions, no way. According to your Baptism, Absolution, and the Body and Blood of Jesus, you absolutely do, because He did! In other words, whatever the Law condemns in you, it condemns in Jesus on Good Friday. Whatever the Law promises, it promises to you through Jesus so that His obedience and perfection count for you.

Whenever we take hold of the Law apart from Jesus, we'll wreck things. We'll either despair because we can't do it, or we'll try to justify ourselves. But in Jesus, the Law is handled and does what it is given to do. It gives its curse and promise to Jesus who keeps the curse for Himself and shares its promise with you. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Our works cannot salvation gain; They merit only endless pain. Forgive us, Lord! To Christ we flee, Who pleads for us endlessly. Have mercy, Lord! ("These Are the Holy Ten Commands" LSB 581, st. 12)

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor René Castillero

Today's Reading: 2 Chronicles 28:8-15

Daily Lectionary: 2 Kings 4:48-5:8; Ephesians 6:1-24

Then the men who were designated by name rose up and took the captives, and from the spoil they clothed all who were naked among them, dressed them and gave them sandals, gave them food and drink, and anointed them; and they let all the feeble ones ride on donkeys. So they brought them to their brethren at Jericho, the city of palm trees. Then they returned to Samaria. (2 Chronicles 28:15)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. While it is true that Jesus is the Good Samaritan who rescues us, there is also a call to love our neighbor. Implicit in the young man's question to Jesus was the idea that there could be someone who you don't like who doesn't have to count as your neighbor. During some of the fighting in the Old Testament, some captives of Judah were helped by the very people who should have been their enemies: Israelites from Samaria. Why would they do such a thing?

Those who have been loved by Jesus in turn love others. He doesn't love us because we deserve it, because we earned His favor, or because He sees our potential. He loves us because He loves the world in this way: by obeying His Father and giving Himself into death to save sinners. To put it another way, Jesus loves you by saving you even though you don't deserve it!

That becomes an example for us. The Law is not teaching us to love others in order to justify ourselves, because we are trying to get on God's good side, or to avoid punishment. This isn't some transactional game where we do something to get something. The Samaritans helped their neighbors because those people needed food and clothing. Jesus helps us, who need to be saved from sin and death. We help our neighbor who needs clothing or food, or a comforting word, or forgiveness, or money, or a hug, or whatever.

We don't have to like the people around us. We should. But that's pretty tough. You can always love them, however. No matter who they are, ask, "What do they need and how can I help them?" You do this not because they deserve it, but because like you, they have been loved and redeemed by Jesus. That's not justifying yourself. That's just being loving toward your neighbor, with the very love Christ has for you! In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Lord, let me win my foes With kindly words and actions. And let me find good friends For counsel and correction. Help me, as You have taught, To love both great and small And by You Spirit's might To live in peace with all. ("O God, My Faithful God" LSB 696, st.4)

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor René Castillero