Reflections

January 1, 2024 

Today's Reading: Luke 2:21

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 61:1-11; Luke 1:57-80

And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. (Luke 2:21)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.  Merry Eighth Day of Christmas!

It’s still Christmas.  Why all this talk of blood?   The Twelve Days of Christmas have several festivals for martyrs, reminding us of bloodshed in the Church.  And now, we hear about bloodshed from our Lord.  But not in the typical way we speak of it.

Jesus shed His blood for you!  Sure, you say, over 30 years after He was born.  Yes. That is true.  But there is even more to ponder and treasure up in your heart.  At the tender age of one week, Joseph and the Blessed Virgin had her Child circumcised.  He was keeping the Law – and shedding His blood in order to keep that Law.  He was not keeping it for Himself.  He did not bleed for Himself.  He did it all for you.  And as He suffered that brief moment, there was a foreshadowing of how someday He would suffer and bleed and die for all.  

Stop and think about that.  Even as a baby, Jesus Christ keeps the Law for you, doing all that is required.  And even as a baby, Jesus Christ sheds His blood for you.  He takes it all upon Himself to redeem you, having His body permanently marked, to witness God’s covenant with His Church.

This was also the moment when He received His name—the most holy Name – the Name which is above every name. Jesus!  The Lord saves!  Imagine: every time they called out His Name, a mini-sermon was preached – “The Lord saves!”

He has come to you at your Baptism, where He brought you forgiveness, rescue, and the promise of eternal salvation.  There, you were permanently marked as His own, witnessing God’s covenant with His Church.  There you too were marked with His most holy Name.  Christ christened you as a Christian!  Bathed in the cleansing water and blood from His pierced side, you were given your personal name and placed into Jesus!

It’s Christmas still.  Why all this talk of blood?  On this Eighth Day of Christmas we are merry as we remember that God is not demanding our own blood be shed to pay for our sins, but that “Jesus shed His blood for me,” the chief of sinners.  He spent His entire life on earth, and now in eternity, fulfilling His most holy name: The Lord saves!  Jesus!  In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Chief of sinners though I be,  Jesus shed His blood for me,  Died that I might live on high,

Lives that I might never die   As the branch is to the vine,  I am His and He is mine.

(LSB 611:1)

-Pastor Richard Heinz is pastor at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Lowell, IN.

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

Study Christ's words on the cross to see how you can show more Christlike grace in your life. Perfect for group or individual study, each chapter has a Q&A at the end, and the back of the book includes a leader guide. Available now from Concordia Publishing House.

December 31, 2023   

Today's Reading: Luke 2:22-40

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 60:1-22; Luke 1:39-56

My eyes have seen your salvation (Luke 2:30)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Out of the crowds in the Temple courts that day, Simeon comes forward and scoops up Baby Jesus in his arms. Simeon recognizes the mysterious truth that this Child is not just “holy to the Lord” – this Child IS the Lord!

That precious truth changes everything for Simeon. You see, this man had been promised by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before He had seen life. He would behold the Savior before He departed in peace, into Paradise to dwell with the Lord. As Mary and Joseph walk through the Temple courts, God reveals to Simeon that this is the One! This Baby is the Savior – the Redeemer – the Holy One of Israel!

That is when Simeon breaks into song, praising God and declaring that he can now die a happy man, since he has seen the Savior and witnessed God keeping His great promise. He is saying, “You can take me now, God. I’ve seen it all! I knew You would keep Your promise, and now it is complete! I’m ready, Lord – come and get me, for I am made holy to the Lord!”

You are holy to the Lord. St. Simeon recognizes that this is a wonderful, comforting Gospel! Try as he might, the devil cannot snatch you out of the Father’s hand. Our dear, loving God is preserving you with the  holy life, sacrificial death, and glorious resurrection of the Holy One of Israel.

You belong to the Lord. At Baptism, the Savior cleansed you, body and soul, and made you holy,  claiming you as His own. God presented you to Himself, and gathered you into His family and kingdom. 

“Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.” You were filled with sin as a baby inside your mother. You belonged to sin and death. But God changed all that. He brought you into His presence with His Word, as it was proclaimed to your expecting mother. Then, more fully and clearly, He publicly displayed that you belong to the Lord as He baptized you.

You belong to the Lord. No matter what hardships you face, no matter what sufferings you endure, no matter how tough life seems, you have the sweet comfort that you are not left alone; Christ the Savior is born, and you are His! He does not abandon you to the darkness of this world, but is the “Light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of [God’s] people, Israel.” In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

O God, our Maker and Redeemer, You wonderfully created us and in the incarnation of Your Son yet more wondrously restored our human nature. Grant that we may ever be alive in Him who made Himself to be like us; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. 

-Pastor Richard Heinz is pastor at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Lowell, IN.

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

Study Christ's words on the cross to see how you can show more Christlike grace in your life. Perfect for group or individual study, each chapter has a Q&A at the end, and the back of the book includes a leader guide. Available now from Concordia Publishing House.

December 30, 2023   

Today's Reading: Introit for Christmas 1

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 58:1-59:3, 14-21; Luke 1:26-38

The LORD reigns ; he is robed in majesty;

The LORD is robed; He has put on strength as His belt. 

(Psalm 93:1, from the Introit for the 1st Sunday after Christmas)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Merry Sixth Day of Christmas!

In Leicester, England, a church displays a beautiful statue of the Christ Child, on His mother’s lap.  The Child Jesus is robed in beautiful, luxurious, dignified Eucharistic vestments – alb, stole, and chasuble, and with a gold crown on His head.  

The Baby had every right as King David’s royal descendent to wear such gorgeous and stately garments, yet never owned costly, royal robes.  He is the King of kings and Lord of lords, who should definitely wear the most amazing crown ever crafted, but the Son of Mary was humble and poor, and did not display His rank and authority by what He wore.  Yet the sculptor is taking you beyond the “swaddling cloths” in the Bethlehem manger. He is teaching through that image that even if unnoticed or unknown, “The LORD is robed.”

At the Fall in the Garden, Adam and Eve first knew that they were naked.  They had been robed with majesty and holiness as the crown of creation.  Now they  were exposed for the broken and corrupt, sinful creatures they now were.  Nakedness was no longer an innocent and beautiful adornment of perfect beings, but a blunt reminder of evil and flaws within and without.

When you were born, you physically entered this world in the broken nakedness of our first parents.  “[You] were brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did [your] mother conceive [you]” (Psalm 51:5.)  But at Baptism, the Lord used the hands and voice of your pastor to bring you forgiveness, rescue, and salvation.  

That washing of rebirth and renewal did something miraculous, that can be described in terms of clothing.  “Let your priests be clothed with righteousness, and let your saints shout for joy” (Psalm 132:9.)  You, the members of Christ’s kingdom of baptized priests, have been clothed with Christ!  “You have been clothed with the robe of Christ’s righteousness that covers all your sin.  So shall you stand before the judgment seat of Christ to receive the inheritance prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” (LSB, p. 271)

Jesus covers you in His righteousness, making you look just like Him!  You might not see the robes or crown with your eyes, but He has covered you with Himself in Baptism, robing you as His royal priests, serving Him in thanksgiving for the faith and salvation that our Newborn King gives. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

O Savior, Child of Mary,  Who felt our human woe;  O Savior, King of glory, 

Who dost our weakness know:  Bring us at length we pray  To the bright courts of heaven,

And to the endless day.  (LSB 359:4)

-Pastor Richard Heinz is pastor at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Lowell, IN.

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

Study Christ's words on the cross to see how you can show more Christlike grace in your life. Perfect for group or individual study, each chapter has a Q&A at the end, and the back of the book includes a leader guide. Available now from Concordia Publishing House.

December 29, 2023   

Today's Reading: Luther's Catechism , 2nd Commandment 

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 55:1-13; Luke 1:1-25

You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God.

What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we do not curse, swear, use satanic arts, lie, or deceive by His name, but call upon it in every trouble, pray, praise, and give thanks. (Luther’s Small Catechism; Second Commandment & Meaning)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Merry Fifth Day of Christmas!

St. Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, called upon the name of the Lord, as he walked to vespers on this date in 1170.  He felt the trouble becoming greater.  Several knights had entered the cathedral and demanded that he come with them and give an account to the king for his actions.  (His actions denied that the earthly king is ruler of Christ’s Church.)  He respectfully refused to be bullied.  Now these knights stormed back into the halls of the Cathedral at Canterbury and confronted St. Thomas. (SPOILER ALERT: More death during these Twelve Days of Christmas!)

These had been rough years for the Archbishop who once was a good friend of the king.  But since holding this office, Thomas had held God in the highest regard, and refused to be pushed around.  He went about his work, serving Christ and His Church.He lived a life of praying, praising, and giving thanks, preaching and teaching others to do the same.

He was forced into exile for a while, leaving the country so that he would not be jailed or executed for standing up to King Henry II.  He returned, even while still dangerous.  But he would not back down.  Christ is Lord of the Church and King of kings.  

Thomas had called on the name of the Lord in good times – times of peace and harmony – and in times of trouble.  You do the same.  You have times of prayer and meditation – spending time with God’s Word and pondering it, both when life is full of good things and also when it has hardships and challenges.

Keeping the second commandment is also about truthfully proclaiming and teaching God’s Word.  St. Thomas did that, even when pressured and threatened by rulers and soldiers.  You do that too.  Sure, you don’t have a thug in armor, whacking at your skull with his sword.  But in the face of non-Christian  classmates who make life rough, teachers who criticize your faith, and other challenges, you remain steadfast in speaking the truth of God’s Word.  In faith, you properly use God’s name.  Thanks be to God. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Lord Jesus Christ, You deigned to dwell  Among us here on earth  As God with us, Emmanuel,  To bring His holy birth,  Though rich, You willingly became  One with our poverty,

That we might share Your wealth and name  For all eternity! (LSB 362:4)

-Pastor Richard Heinz is pastor at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Lowell, IN.

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

Study Christ's words on the cross to see how you can show more Christlike grace in your life. Perfect for group or individual study, each chapter has a Q&A at the end, and the back of the book includes a leader guide. Available now from Concordia Publishing House.

December 28, 2023   

Today's Reading: Matthew 2:13-18

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 52:13-54:10; Matthew 2:13-23

“A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.” (Matthew 2:18)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Merry Fourth Day of Christmas!

“The Boy who lived.”  In the Harry Potter novels, that is a phrase that refers to Harry.  No one could withstand the evil Voldemort, and his murderous rampage.  That is, until Harry.  Harry’s mother gave her life defending her one-year-old son, and when the murdering curse was cast, the baby miraculously survived. Harry was then placed into hiding by people who cared about him, so he could survive and one day help others.

As the story goes on, the reader discovers that this all had to take place, so that Harry could in fact, one day lay down his own life in love and courage for the protection of others, and then return to life.  Sound familiar?  

St. Matthew proclaims the real “Boy who lived.”  While King Herod orders the murder of all toddler and baby boys near Bethlehem, God sends an angel to warn St. Joseph to smuggle the Blessed Virgin and her Son to safety.  God’s plan would not be fulfilled had the Christ Child been killed in this way.  The fullness of time would come later, after living perfectly and going to Jerusalem to lay down His life as the Lamb of God on the altar of the cross.

Today the Church recalls the infant martyrs who were slain by Herod’s evil plan, but takes comfort in our loving and merciful Lord who gathered those little ones into His arms in paradise.  Enduring such horrors, their mothers would be hard pressed to find any comfort.  The true “Boy who lived” is no ordinary boy, but the God who created us all.  He is the One victorious over death and the devil, and can give peace and comfort that surpasses understanding.  Rachel refused to be comforted, because sin, death, and the devil had not yet been fully conquered.  But the Christ Child grew and at the fullness of time, laid down His life for us all.  

At the cross, the death of these Holy Innocents lost its comfortless horror and grief.  Jesus’ own death and resurrection bring the holy comfort that heals and soothes their mothers, and the whole Church.  In His saving and life-giving work, we can share in the joy and bliss that the Holy Innocents have already been experiencing since the moment they departed this life, and were embraced by their Lord.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Almighty God, the martyred innocents of Bethlehem showed forth Your praise not by speaking but by dying.  Put to death in us all that is in conflict with Your will that our lives may bear witness to the faith we profess with our lips; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. 

-Pastor Richard Heinz is pastor at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Lowell, IN.

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

Study Christ's words on the cross to see how you can show more Christlike grace in your life. Perfect for group or individual study, each chapter has a Q&A at the end, and the back of the book includes a leader guide. Available now from Concordia Publishing House.

December 27, 2023   

Today's Reading: John 21:20-25

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 51:17-52:12; Matthew 2:1-12

This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true. (John 21:24)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.  Merry Third Day of Christmas!

Happy Feast of St. John!  John is one of the Twelve.  Apostle.  Evangelist.  The one bearing witness about these things.  Or as he originally said it in Greek, the one martyring about these things.  To be a martyr is to be a witness.  Normally we use that word to talk about those who bore witness to Christ by being killed for Christ and the faith that He has given.  It is said that St. John is the only apostle who died a natural death; Jesus spared him the violence of being physically martyred.  And yet, his life and ministry for the decades that followed Jesus’ resurrection and ascension were full of a witness through John’s preaching and celebrating of Christ’s sacraments. 

The world is full of darkness.  And not just the darkness at this time of year, with later sunrises and earlier sunsets.  Sin, death, and the devil are always trying to surround us and fill us with cold and darkness, doubts and fears, to keep us away from Jesus.  The Beloved Disciple witnesses Christ to us, and reflects the Light of the World (John 8.)  Jesus scatters the darkness, radiating His Gospel light, and the darkness has not overcome it (John 1:5.)

Christ cast the bright beams of His light by forming John and the other apostles in faith, proclaiming His Law and His life-giving Gospel.  And they, in turn, witnessed.  Martyred.  They reflected the bright beams of Christ’s light to all who heard His Word in their preaching and writing.

Daily, the devil tries pulling you back into the darkness, overwhelming you so you feel alone and cut off from the Light of the World.  Like St. John in his elderly years, after the other apostles had all been martyred, you might even feel like you alone are left, and you’re surrounded by those who are against Christ.  But Jesus has rescued you and given you new birth from above (John 3), claiming you as His own.  You are not alone.  Jesus has sent the Comforter and has overcome the world for you (John 16.)

Jesus has overcome any hurt, heartache, overwhelm, and  darkness.  And He gives His saving Gospel to you through St. John (and the other prophets, apostles, and evangelists that He inspired.) Through the witness of St. John and these men moved by the Holy Spirit, Christ gives light to you and the world. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Merciful Lord, cast the bright beams of Your light upon Your Church that we, being instructed by the doctrine of Your blessed apostle and evangelist John, may come to the light of everlasting life; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy SPirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. 

-Pastor Richard Heinz is pastor at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Lowell, IN.

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

Study Christ's words on the cross to see how you can show more Christlike grace in your life. Perfect for group or individual study, each chapter has a Q&A at the end, and the back of the book includes a leader guide. Available now from Concordia Publishing House.

December 26, 2023   

Today's Reading: Matthew 23:34-39

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 49:22-26; 50:4-51:8, 12-16; Matthew 1:18-25

For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’” (Matthew 23:39)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Merry Second Day of Christmas!  Today is the Feast of St. Stephen, the first martyr after Jesus’ resurrection, stoned to death for preaching Christ crucified.  Wait. What?  Christmas is a time to talk about birth.  Babies.  New life.  What’s this about death?  

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” Jerusalem would not see Jesus after He prophesied this until Palm Sunday, when He triumphantly entered the city as the Son of David, the King, coming for His enthronement on the cross.  

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”  Even when some saw Him, like many Pharisees, Sadducees, and others, they refused to join in this cry of faith.

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”  At the moment of Stephen’s death, he saw the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God, and while the crowd surrounding Stephen to murder him would not exclaim the praise, Stephen could see the One who comes in the name of the Lord, ready to receive him into paradise.  As this cruel and painful end crushed him, Stephen had a peace beyond understanding, as Christ Jesus gathered him to our heavenly Father.

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”  We get a glimpse of Stephen’s heavenly vision as we gather around Christ’s altar week after week.  Singing both “Holy! Holy! Holy!” with the angels around God’s throne, and this quotation from the Psalms with the children of Jerusalem and the Church in every age, we feast upon the true body of Christ and drink His true blood.

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”  Some day, when the Lord has brought our days to His perfect completion, He will gather us to Himself and bless us with this vision given to Stephen, seeing our Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.  The bloodshed and hardships of this world will be over, and we will have joy that is merrier than any Christmas we have known.  The One who has come in the name of the Lord to nourish, forgive, give life and salvation, will bring it to perfect completion at the Last Day – as He comes – for you.  “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Praise for the first of martyrs   Who saw You ready stand  To help in time of torment,

To plead at God’s right hand  Like You, our suff’ring Savior  His enemies he blessed,

With “Lord, receive my spirit,”  His faith, by death, confessed. (LSB 517:7)

-Pastor Richard Heinz is pastor at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Lowell, IN.

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

Study Christ's words on the cross to see how you can show more Christlike grace in your life. Perfect for group or individual study, each chapter has a Q&A at the end, and the back of the book includes a leader guide. Available now from Concordia Publishing House.

December 25, 2023   

Today's Reading: John 1.1-14

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 49:1-18; Matthew 1:1-17

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son  from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. “Christmas just doesn't work out for me. Never has.”  That is the punch-you-in-the-gut moment as you get to know Billy, the sad, impoverished child picked up by the Polar Express.  He is dressed in a tattered night shirt, and comes from an old, run down house “on the wrong side of the tracks.” Christmas has not been a time of plenty, but of continued need.  Still, there is a problem.

Billy has a hard time trusting anyone, as tough as life has been.  Throughout the story, he is welcomed and befriended by two other children.  And in the end, the conductor artistically punches words into the passengers’ tickets.  Billy’s has the words: “COUNT ON.”  He is encouraged to count on others, to count on his new friends, to count on Santa, to count on Christmas working out for him.

Christmas is indeed a time to “count on,” but not in the simplistic, earthly sense of counting on friends, family, or others. Christmas is the great festival of the Incarnation and Nativity of Our Lord!  God-in-the-flesh has come and there is no one more perfect, loving, and holy to “count on.”

Today you worship God Incarnate and then go about your daily life in the true Christmas Spirit.  That is, the Holy Spirit, who has called you to faith and delivered the Gospel and Sacraments of the Word Made Flesh.  It is not you who have the ability to count on God; it is the loving and merciful gift of the Lord that He sends His Spirit to give you faith—the gift of “counting on” Him alone. The Holy Spirit is the One who is giving you joy over Jesus’ birth; God becoming Man for you!

Merry Christmas, you dear, forgiven saints!  Merry Christmas, as you celebrate in the gift of faith, counting on Christ Jesus, who is delivered to you in His Gifts of Word and Sacrament!  His Holy Spirit brings you to believe and understand the most profound words about Christmas, which are not even from Luke 2, "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us."  Yes, Joy to the world!  The Lord is come!" And He will continue to come in His Word and His Sacraments, until He gathers you to Himself in eternity!  THAT is an amazing Christmas gift that you can “count on” and “believe!”  Merry Christmas!  In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Almighty God, grant that the birth of Your only-begotten Son in the flesh may set us free from the bondage of sin; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.  

-Pastor Richard Heinz is pastor at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Lowell, IN.

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

Study Christ's words on the cross to see how you can show more Christlike grace in your life. Perfect for group or individual study, each chapter has a Q&A at the end, and the back of the book includes a leader guide. Available now from Concordia Publishing House.

December 24, 2023   

Today's Reading: Luke 2.1-20

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 44:21-45:13, 20-25; Revelation 12:1-17

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger. (Luke 2:11-12)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Where do we find Him?  The shepherds are tremendously blessed that the Gospel proclaimed by the angel and sung by the heavenly host did not simply tell them what had happened, but where.  Sure, the King of kings and Lord of lords is omnipresent.  He’s everywhere.  But He had just come right then, for them–and for you!  Christ the Lord had come in the flesh, and located Himself, for our salvation.

People around us are looking for some sort of “good news” about Christmas in many places; movies, Christmas cookies, trees and decorations, a break from school, time with family, and more.  Even in the Church, you can get side tracked, and focus on the Christmas carols, the children’s Christmas program, decorating the church, sharing a feast with family, and just loving each other.  These are all good things.  They are all gifts from God.  And yet, they are not the heart of the angel’s message that brings the “good news of great joy.”

The best way to celebrate this holy day IS to gather with family, sing, eat, and receive a gift. However, not in the way most people would think of that.  The Lord has blessed you to celebrate this holy night, gifting you to know where to find Him.  He still is everywhere, but He still locates Himself for you.  Christ the Lord still comes in the flesh, and locates Himself for your salvation.  

Where do we find Him?  

Tonight, He is no longer a newborn baby in Bethlehem, as precious and dear as that image is to us.  He is not swaddled and sleeping in heavenly peace.  You don’t even have the challenge of coming up with airfare to Israel and making your way to the incense-filled grotto in the Church of the Nativity.

Tonight is not only for the shepherds to find Jesus. Tonight you also find the baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.  You do this as you sing with the angels, hear His Gospel proclaimed by your pastor, and kneel at the altar where the body of Christ the Lord is wrapped in the swaddling cloths of Holy Communion linens.  What good news of great joy that Jesus Himself is placed on the manger of your tongue.  In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

“The manger held the God of life,  Who came to swallow sin and strife.

Christ, let my tongue Thy manger be,That I may swallow life in Thee.”

In Bethlehem, the House of Bread, a hymn by Chad L. Bird

-Pastor Richard Heinz is pastor at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Lowell, IN.

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

Study Christ's words on the cross to see how you can show more Christlike grace in your life. Perfect for group or individual study, each chapter has a Q&A at the end, and the back of the book includes a leader guide. Available now from Concordia Publishing House.

December 23, 2023  

Today's Reading: Introit for Advent 4

Daily Lectionary:Isaiah 43:25-44:20; Revelations 11:1-19

In them he has set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy. (Psalm 19:5)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. The words of Psalm 19, are a proclamation that the very creation, created by the living and active Word of God testifies to His glory and handiwork. God’s Word does not fall flat. It accomplishes what it says it will do. We find comfort, and delight in this, knowing that when God says something, it is as good as done.

The word made flesh, Christ the bridegroom comes to us, not as a strong man, but as a lowly baby. The Christ child, the Word made flesh, submits Himself under the perfect law of the Lord. The Christ child, who would not live the life of a royal king, or be known as a strong man, is known as Jesus, the one who we put to death on the cross. 

It is in this weakness, that God Himself, bearing our sin is condemned under the law and receives our punishment.  That being hung on the cross, dying, before the heavens and all creation it would be as the Psalmist says, “Shower, O heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain down righteousness; let the earth open, that salvation and righteousness may bear fruit.” It is in this weakness that God Himself works salvation for the whole world.

It is in Christ crucified for you that the heavens declare the glory of God. It is in Christ crucified for you, that all creation proclaims the handiwork of the Lord. This crucified and risen Jesus, who came to you as a lowly baby is the one who declares you innocent, and blameless. In Jesus you are acceptable to God. 

The Gospel of Christ crucified, is the message that Christ commanded His church to proclaim to all parts of the world. The message that Jesus, the Son of God is the one who through the preaching of the word, and the giving of the Sacraments by your pastor, the eyes of the sinner might be opened, and salvation and righteousness would bear fruit. The Word that became flesh and dwelt among us, will come again in glory. Until that day, we rejoice that the bridegroom has emerged and will emerge again to be with His bride.  In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Lord Jesus, You are the Sun of righteousness with healing in His wings. Enlighten our darkened understanding by Your Holy Word. Enkindle our hearts and mold our will to walk in faith, love, and hope unto all pleasing. Let the light of Your Gospel shine on the nations that sit in darkness, and preserve Your Church to the day of Your coming. Amen. (Book of devotion: the Psalms” pg. 29)

-Vicar Justin Chester is vicar at Shepherd of the City in Fort Wayne, IN.

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

Study Christ's words on the cross to see how you can show more Christlike grace in your life. Perfect for group or individual study, each chapter has a Q&A at the end, and the back of the book includes a leader guide. Available now from Concordia Publishing House.