Reflections

Daily Lectionary: Joel 1:1-20; Romans 10:1-21

Put on sackcloth and lament, O priests; wail, O ministers of the altar. . . .Gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land to the house of the LORD your God, and cry out to the LORD. (Joel 1:13-14)   

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. As the people of God gather today, the minister still takes the lead: "O almighty God, merciful Father." The rest of God's children then join in the cry, "I, a poor, miserable sinner, confess unto You all my sins and iniquities with which I have ever offended You and justly deserved Your temporal and eternal punishment" (LSB, p.184).

With the prophet, we, too, know that there's no point digging in our heels. While there may be no direct correlation between our sin and the trials and troubles we face in life (think Job), the trials and troubles we do face could never hold a candle to the trials and troubles, both "temporal and eternal," our sins say we deserve. 

The proper response among God's people to any trial, or to the locust plague Joel writes about today is not, "Why me, God?" As Luther's first of 95 theses teaches, "When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said, 'Repent,' He willed the entire life of believers to be one of repentance." In other words, the proper response is, "Thank You, God, for not giving me what I truly deserve, what my sins rightly merit. Thank You for giving all of that instead to Jesus, on the Cross, for me. And thank You for all the blessings You do give me."

You will never find such faith by looking within. It's not born by mulling over your own subjective experiences. It is born of the Gospel. That is, it is given by God Himself every day in the water and promise of Baptism. By God as your pastor absolves you and preaches the Gospel to you. By God with Jesus' Body and Blood, "for you, for the forgiveness of sins." Faith is yours as the Gospel is yours. 

As the Gospel promises, everything that is yours belongs to the Cross now, and everything that belongs to Jesus belongs to you, now. There's your faith. Jesus. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

My soul, now praise your Maker! Let all within me bless His name Who makes you full partaker Of mercies more than you dare claim. Forget Him now whose meekness Still bears with all your sin, Who heals your every weakness, Renews your life within; Whose grace and care our endless And saved you through the past; Who leaves no suff'rer friendless But rights the wrong at last. ("My Soul, Now Praise Your Maker" LSB 820, st.1)

-Rev. Bradley Drew is pastor of Mount Olive Lutheran Church in Metairie, LA.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Duane Bamsch

Pastor-psychiatrist duo Rev. A. Trevor Sutton and Dr. Brian Smith have teamed up to help you evaluate your technology use through a Christian perspective. Learn how to form healthy, faithful technology habits with Jesus at the center. Now available from Concordia Publishing House. 

Today's Reading: Romans 12:6-16

Daily Lectionary: Ezekiel 47:1-14, 21-23; Romans 9:19-33

Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty. (Romans 12:15-16a)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. COVID. Mask mandates. Vaccinations. Earthquakes. Fires. Hurricanes. The Taliban. Afghanistan. Wars. Rumors of wars. Critical Race Theory. The border. China. Russia. Defund the police. Cyberattacks. Global warming. I could say, it's all going according to plan (Matthew 24:6-14). Still, there's enough fear going around, it can get anyone lost inside themselves. 

What to do? Here's what to do: Listen to your pastor. Listen as he speaks the words of Holy Absolution to you. Those words were purchased for you by Jesus' death for you on the Cross. Listen as he preaches the Gospel to you. Jesus was crucified for you, erasing the distance between you and God. Listen as he points you to your Baptism, where Jesus daily preserves your status before God as holy and righteous. Listen as he brings you the Body and Blood and says, "For you, for the forgiveness of sins." Pray the liturgy. Sing the hymns. Go home again with the peace of God given you in the Benediction.

Your heavenly Father never asks you to pick yourself up by your own bootstraps. He knows you can't. He knows you are a child. But He also knows you are His child. It's what the Gospel is for. It's why God not only gives you the Gospel, but also leaves the Gospel with you. The Gospel is not only for eternal life, it's for this life as well. 

For with the Gospel, God not only frees and brings you to Himself, He frees and brings you to your neighbor. That's what Paul is writing about today. Let God play the role of God, while you play the role of neighbor. He's got this. With those who rejoice, rejoice. With those who weep, weep. He's got this. With those who fear, point to the hope God has promised all of us in Jesus. He's got this. Abhor evil and cling to the good. He's got this. In tribulation, be patient. And pray. He's got this. Bless, don't curse. He's got this. Find a way to outdo others in showing love and honor to all. He's got this. 

And, best of all, through thick and thin, He's got you, too. That's the promise of the Gospel. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Christ, our human likeness sharing, Heaven's love on earth portrayed; Christ, the Shepherd, tending, caring, In His death our ransom paid: Christ, the Savior, Christ the Servant, Be your love in us displayed. ("Christ, Our Human Likeness Sharing" LSB 847, st.1) 

-Rev. Bradley Drew is pastor of Mount Olive Lutheran Church in Metairie, LA.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Duane Bamsch

Today's Reading: Small Catechism: Table of Duties, To Widows

Daily Lectionary: Ezekiel 44:1-16, 23-29; Romans 9:1-18

The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help. (1 Timothy 5:5)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. At the time of Luther, the church was saying that there were works to get to, super-duper good works, in order for you to be declared good in God's sight. Pray the rosary so many times each day. Pray to the saints. Join a monastery. Put enough money in the offering plate to make God Himself take notice. Do the penance prescribed by the priest. Make a pilgrimage to Rome. On and on went such lists. 

And if all you did was go to work, change diapers, wipe noses, raise a family, provide for your children, bear with the sins of others? You were never going to be declared good enough in God's sight. Not in this life, anyways. Make it to purgatory by being at least "good enough" in the eyes of the church, and your sufferings there would do for you what Jesus' Cross here never could, according to that teaching: declare you, a sinner, holy and righteous in God's sight.

Luther knew better. The Gospel taught him better. Jesus' death for the sins of the whole world has already declared you good in God's sight. Righteous. His child. An heir of Paradise. There are no works, ordinary or super-duper, for you to get to in order for those declarations to be true for you now. Jesus' death upon the Cross for you makes that true for you now. His Word promises it to you. Your Baptism seals it for you. The Supper celebrates it for you.

And that makes even the most ordinary works you do extraordinary now in God's sight. Even just a prayer? Yes. For by the death of His Son for you upon the Cross, God has you so wrapped up in His redeeming love that there is never a moment now when He isn't delighting in you. Even if "all" you can muster is a quick prayer. Or a diaper change. Even then. 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? 

Satan, hear this proclamation: I am baptized into Christ! Drop your ugly accusation, I am not so soon enticed. Now that to the font I've traveled, All your might has come unraveled, And, against your tyranny, God, my Lord, unites with Me! ("God's Own Child, I Gladly Say It" LSB 594, st.2-3)

-Rev. Bradley Drew is pastor of Mount Olive Lutheran Church in Metairie, LA.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Duane Bamsch

Today's Reading: Mark 8:27-9:1

Daily Lectionary:  Ezekiel 40:1-4; 43:1-12; Romans 8:18-39

And he asked them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered him, "You are the Christ." (Mark 8:29) 

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Peter properly says, "You are the Christ" (Mark 8:29). But because man is always trying to squash Jesus into his own scheme of things, Jesus "strictly charged them to tell no one about him" (Mark 8:30). Jesus would tell us about Himself and what it means for Him to be the Christ for us. And what a telling it is. "And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected. . . and be killed, and after three days rise again" (Mark 8:31). 

Man thinks he can save himself. Jesus thinks man must get out of the way. "For whoever would save his life will lose it" (Mark 8:35). Man thinks he can give his own death in return for his life. Jesus responds, "What can a man give in return for his life?" (Mark 8:37) With his mind set "on the things of man" (Mark 8:33), what is Peter thinking? That a faith trusting its own work and merit is how best to follow Jesus? At the very least, Jesus says, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me" (Mark 8:34). 

Nobody really wants to be ashamed of herself and her own righteousness. What we must all learn, however, is that such a cross, or such despair of self, is actually godly and wholesome. It frees us to abandon our confidence in ourselves and trust in Jesus alone. Not cheerleader Jesus. Dead Jesus. Risen Jesus. Not life-coach Jesus. Word Jesus. Water Jesus. Supper Jesus. The Jesus who takes the fruit and promise of His Cross and gives it to us as our own. Who would even bark, "Get behind Me, Satan!" to any voice trying to get in the way of His going to the Cross for us.

No, you are not the source of your confidence before God. Jesus is. The "FOR YOU" Jesus whom God sends for Peter and you. The beaten, dead, and risen Jesus. These are the things of God. And they are for Peter. And they are for you. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

Heavenly Father, You revealed to the apostle Peter the blessed truth that Your Son Jesus is the Christ. Strengthen us by the proclamation of this truth that we too may joyfully confess that there is salvation in no one else; 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 Confession of St. Peter)

-Rev. Bradley Drew is pastor of Mount Olive Lutheran Church in Metairie, LA.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Duane Bamsch

Today's Reading: Ezekiel 33:12-23

Daily Lectionary: Ezekiel 39:1-10, 17-29; Romans 7:21-8:17

Yet you have said, "I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight." (Exodus 33:12b)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. How do you know that you've found favor with God? When you're popular and everyone likes you? What if they don't, and even friends betray you? Is it when you are healthy and strong? What about when you are sick and weak? Is it when you are rich? What if you are poor? How do you really know you have found favor with God? 

Beware of the devil's preachers. They love pointing away from the Cross. Rather than teaching you to hide yourself in the promise of Jesus and His sacrifice for you on the Cross, they teach you to ignore all that and instead to look at yourself and your circumstances. After all, they know the plans God has for you--that you will be popular, liked by all, healthy, strong, and rich in this life. Fall for that, and you will end up hating God when those plans don't work out. 

Remember, Moses was a sinner, a murderer, even. Yet Moses found favor with God. Look at Moses and his circumstances, and you'd never believe it--sinner that he was, exiled from his homeland, wandering around in the wilderness for 40 years, not even being allowed to enter the Promised Land. But don't look there anymore than you would look at yourself or your circumstances to see if you have God's favor or not. 

Instead, like Moses, listen to God's promises to you. "I know you by name" (Exodus 33:12). That's the promise God makes to you every day in Baptism, tying you to the promise of Jesus' sacrifice for you on the Cross. "My presence will go with you" (Exodus 33:14). That's the promise God makes with Jesus' Body and Blood at the Supper, "for you, for the forgiveness of sins." "And I will give you rest" (Exodus 33:14) is the promise God makes with you in every Absolution and sermon you hear from your pastor. 

How do you know that you've found favor with God? Hide yourself! Hide yourself in Jesus. All eyes on His Cross. Because whatever your circumstances, Jesus' death declares you to be holy to God, His child, an heir to eternal life. That's the favor God has promised you in this life. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee; Let the water and the blood, From Thy riven side which flowed, Be of sin the double cure: Cleanse me from its guilt and pow'r. ("Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me" LSB 761, st.1) 

-Rev. Bradley Drew is pastor of Mount Olive Lutheran Church in Metairie, LA.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Duane Bamsch

Today's Reading: John 2:1-11

Daily Lectionary: Ezekiel 38:1-23; Romans 7:1-20

On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee. (John 2:1)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Jesus could have chosen anywhere for His first miracle. The Jordan River or the Red Sea. A cemetery or hospital. The temple in Jerusalem. The wilderness or some mountain top. But Jesus chooses a wedding where a man and a woman are brought together and declared one.

You say you and God are like Mars and Venus? Or maybe oil and water? You don't mix? You're always questioning God? Doubting His Word? Convinced someone, or something else, is in control? You don't fear God's threats or trust His promises like you should? You are often unfaithful in your calling as a son, daughter, student, or neighbor? At times you are even angry at God? Well, you are no different than I am, then.

Good News, fellow Martian: Just like Jesus' birth, just like Jesus' death, just like Jesus' Resurrection, and ascension, and Word, and water, and Supper, Jesus' first miracle promises you that you and God are together, now and forever. Declared to be at one with each other, in Jesus. 

For all that Mars and Venus, or oil and water business? Yeah, God knows all about the unbelief and sin in us that separates us from Him. That makes us all damnable sinners in His sight. But here's the Good News: God put that on Jesus when Jesus went to the Cross for you. He became the Martian, the sinner, the "you" for you. And His blood now covers it all.

And to teach you to trust this Good News, Jesus adds His Word to water in Baptism today, preserving your union with God as holy and pure. All God sees when He looks at you now, in Jesus, is His blameless and righteous child. Jesus even adds His Word to bread and wine, making sure the wedding feast continues at the Supper: "Take, eat; take, drink; My Body, My Blood, for you, for the forgiveness of sins." 

Sounded crazy when Mary told the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." But it worked out well for everyone, didn't it? It will for you, too, as Jesus tells you with His first miracle. "Fear not. Trust Me. You and God are one now, in Me. Together now, forever." In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

Almighty and everlasting God, who governs all things in heaven and on earth, mercifully hear the prayers of Your people and grant us Your peace through all our days; 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 Second Sunday after the Epiphany)  

-Rev. Bradley Drew is pastor of Mount Olive Lutheran Church in Metairie, LA.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Duane Bamsch

Today's Reading: Introit for the Second Sunday after the Epiphany (Psalm 66:1-5, 20; antiphon: Psalm 66:4; 92:1)

Daily Lectionary: Ezekiel 37:15-28; Romans 6:1-23

All the earth worships you and sings praises to you; they sing praises to your name. (From the Introit for the Second Sunday after the Epiphany)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Tomorrow's Introit calls out at four times the promise of the Gospel, that "all the earth" is included at the Cross, that "all the earth" has been scooped up by God and reconciled to Him by the blood Jesus shed for all upon the Cross, and that "all the earth" belongs to its rightful Maker again--the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

"Come and see what God has done" (Isaiah 66:5). That is the essence of true worship. God does not want to be worshipped by our showing Him works in exchange for His love. All we can offer God, even with our "righteous deeds," are sins (Isaiah 64:6). That's a harsh judgment, not shared at all by the world around us. Nevertheless, it is the judgment of God's holy Law (Romans 3:23).

God wants to be worshipped by your seeing and receiving the works He does for you. He sent Jesus to the Cross for you, with all your sins. Jesus died for you, for all your sins. Jesus rose for you, with all of your sins answered for in His death for you upon the Cross. Now Jesus comes to you in His Word, in His water, and at His Supper with all the promise and blessing of His Cross, declaring you holy in God's sight, His child, an heir to eternal life.

And while it may seem a huge overstatement when tomorrow's Introit cries out, "All the earth worships you and sings praises to you," don't be fooled by what you see all around you. I know, it doesn't look that way and it seems that God has been left out of the picture. But you and I also know this: "All the earth" is included at the Cross, has been scooped up by God and reconciled by the blood Jesus shed for it, and it belongs to its rightful Maker again. That means even the craziness and evil of this world must, and will, serve only the plans and purposes of your heavenly Father. What Gospel! In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

The world's remotest races, Upon whose weary faces The Sun looks from the sky, Shall run with zeal untiring, With joy Your light desiring That breaks upon them from on high. Lift up your eyes in wonder—See, nations gather yonder From sin to be set free. The world has heard Your story; Her sons come to Your glory; Her daughters haste Your light to see. ("Arise and Shine in Splendor" LSB 396, st. 3-4)

-Rev. Bradley Drew is pastor of Mount Olive Lutheran Church in Metairie, LA.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Duane Bamsch

Today's Reading: Luke 2:41-52

Daily Lectionary: Ezekiel 36:33-37:14; Romans 5:1-21

And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. (Luke 2:51) 

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Stunning. The One who gave the Law places Himself under the Law, even under the Fourth Commandment. Why? For you, "to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive the adoption as sons" (Galatians 4:5). That's the promise you received in your Baptism (Galatians 3:27).

Stunning. Jesus places Himself under the Law to do for us what we cannot, and will not, do for ourselves (Romans 8:7). He will honor His father and mother. He will obey them. He will be submissive to them. He will keep the Fourth Commandment, and all the other commandments, perfectly. He will live His life in such a way that His own Law could never accuse or condemn Him. 

And yet, it did. For you. Stunning. For 12-year-old Jesus would one day take His life and sacrifice it for you on the Cross. It's where the Passover sacrifices in the temple were all pointing--to Jesus, to His Cross, to the sacrifice by which you at age 12, and every age before and every age after, are reconciled to God, and promised your spot in the Father's house. In the place of sacrifice at age 12, Jesus was already thinking about you.

And Jesus still is thinking about you. In Baptism, Jesus washes you every day with the promise of His Cross. In the Absolution and sermons you hear from your pastor, He is still speaking His sacrifice over you. And at the Supper, with His Body and Blood, Jesus still makes sure that when His Father looks at you, all He sees is another Law keeper: "for you, for the forgiveness of sins." Stunning.

And while you may feel like beating yourself up for the times you have been the cause of your parents' distress, take comfort in knowing even Jesus' parents were once distressed over Him. If Jesus could be so misunderstood, don't be surprised that you can be, too. Remember that God has already declared you holy and His, because of Jesus. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Within the Father's house The Son has found His home, And to His temple suddenly The Lord of life has come. Lord, visit Thou our souls And teach us by Thy grace Each dim revealing of Thyself With loving awe to trace Till we behold Thy face And know as we are known Thee Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Coequal Three in One. ("Within the Father's House" LSB 410, st.1, 5-6)

-Rev. Bradley Drew is pastor of Mount Olive Lutheran Church in Metairie, LA.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Duane Bamsch

Today's Reading: Joshua 3:1-3, 7-8, 13-17

Daily Lectionary: Ezekiel 36:13-28; Romans 4:1-25

Now the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firmly on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan, and all Israel was passing over on dry ground until all the nation finished passing over the Jordan. (Joshua 3:17)  

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Have you ever asked yourself, "Why is my Bible so heavy?" Jesus. That's why. The Holy Spirit just can't contain Himself. He keeps putting Jesus here and there. Out in the open. Under every branch and leaf. Again and again, verse after verse, you will find Jesus.

Our reading begins, "Then Joshua rose early in the morning" (Joshua 3:1). Why do we need to know when Joshua rose? Think Jesus. For Jesus, Joshua's New Testament namesake, also rose early one important morning--the morning that He led us across the river we call death by dying for us, our death, on the Cross. 

We are told that "at the end of three days" they sent officers throughout the camp (Joshua 3:2). Why do we need to know it was "after three days"? Again, think Jesus. For it was on "the third day" (Luke 24:7) that Jesus rose from the dead for us, forever sending the bright beams of resurrection life throughout the camp of all the baptized.

In the beginning, middle, and end of our reading we get the phrases "passed over" (Joshua 3:1, 16), "pass over" (v.14), and "passing over" (v.17). Again, think Jesus. For with all your sin on the Cross, God's wrath has nowhere else to land but upon Jesus. God's wrath passed, is passing, and will forever pass over you now.

Your Bible is so heavy because the Holy Spirit can't help Himself. He can't stop talking about Jesus. He wants you to hear that Jesus is the "dry ground" your Baptism promises will be under your feet every day. That Jesus is the "dry ground" God puts under you with every Absolution and sermon you hear from your pastor. That Jesus' Body and Blood, given you at His Supper, is the "dry ground" upon which you have already crossed, and will always cross, the muddy Jordan, untouched by its death (John 6:54). 

Our Joshua has arrived. And like Joshua of old, our Joshua will safely lead us across the Jordan into the Promised Land of eternal life. It's why God sends Jesus. It's why your Bible is so heavy. For you! In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Come you faithful, raise the strain Of triumphant gladness! God has brought His Israel Into joy from sadness, Loosed from Pharaoh's bitter yoke Jacob's sons and daughters, Led them with unmoistened foot Through the Red Sea waters. ("Come, You Faithful, Raise the Strain" LSB 487, st.1)

-Rev. Bradley Drew is pastor of Mount Olive Lutheran Church in Metairie, LA.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Duane Bamsch

Today's Reading: Small Catechism: Table of Duties, To Youth

Daily Lectionary: Ezekiel 34:1-24; Romans 3:19-31

Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. (1 Peter 5:5-6)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Under the discipline of "those who are older," God's hand can seem quite mighty at times. Add to that the burden and pressure of all the other things life throws at you, and that hand seems even mightier.

Through it all, trust that hand. It bears you no harm at all. God's hand poured out all its harm on Jesus when Jesus humbled Himself and carried your sin to the Cross for you (Philippians 2:4-11). All that is left in God's hand, now, is forgiveness and love for you. 

Through it all, then, trust that hand. God is training you as a Father (Hebrews 12:7-11) to live each day according to His promises, not according to your surroundings. He's teaching you to find meaning and life not in what could be, but in what actually is. God is disciplining you, as His child, so that you learn to find courage and strength not in your circumstances, but in His Word alone. What has He spoken to you in His Word? What has He promised you? 

Jesus. That's What. That's Who. Jesus on the Cross for you. Jesus in Baptism for you. Jesus in Absolution and sermons for you. Jesus in the Supper for you. Jesus on the Last Day for you. Jesus, to forgive and to save you all the way through. 

It's okay not to be the one in charge, because the One in charge is God Himself. He's the maestro. We are the orchestra, His masterpiece. I know. Sometimes, you don't like the sound of the music. I get that. He gets that, too. 

But, don't ever forget this: By sending Jesus to the Cross for us, God has reconciled the entire band to Himself. And that includes you. God knows where you are. He put you there. He knows what you are going through. He's there with you. Give it time. For the time will come when God raises you up to see that His goodness and mercy were always there. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

What God ordains is always good: He is my friend and Father; He suffers naught to do me harm Though many storms may gather. Now I may know both joy and woe; Someday I shall see clearly That He has loved me dearly. ("What God Ordains Is Always Good" LSB 760, st.4)

-Rev. Bradley Drew is pastor of Mount Olive Lutheran Church in Metairie, LA.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Duane Bamsch