Reflections

March 14, 2025 

Today's Reading: Mark 5:1-20

Daily Lectionary: Genesis 13:1-18; Genesis 14:1-24; Mark 5:1-20

And the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the sea. (Mark 5:13)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

Unclean spirits hate water. When Jesus explains what happens after an unclean spirit has gone out of a person, he says, “...it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none.” (Matt. 12:43). Waterless places–the wilderness and the desert–are often associated with demonic forces in the Bible. 

Such a dry spirit can return. Jesus continues, “Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first” (Matt. 12:45). What do you do when the spirits are many?

Such a fate had befallen the madman from the Gerasenes. So wild and erratic and even violent was he that he lived among the tombs–a place filled with dry bones. No one could overcome his seemingly supernatural strength, and his cries and self-harm repelled most other helpers. 

But then the man met Jesus. He confessed Him to be the Son of God. When Jesus asked him his name, he responded, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” He took a plural pronoun because there was not just one unclean spirit inhabiting the man. His–or rather, their–wild and erratic and even violent behavior was because there was a war going on within him. A struggle for identity. He was a living example of the warning Jesus once gave about unclean spirits and waterless places.

There is only one possible destination for this Legion to take care of them for good. “Now a great herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, and they begged him, saying, Send us to the pigs; let us enter them.’” Jesus grants the request but then drives the herd of swine into the sea to drown them. Unclean spirits hate water. And having been drowned, they will not return.

“What does such baptizing with water indicate? It indicates that the Old Adam in us should by daily contrition and repentance be drowned and die with all sins and evil desires, and that a new man should daily emerge and arise to live before God in righteousness and purity forever.” Baptism makes you a watered place, a place unfit for unclean spirits. Daily contrition and repentance keep the baptismal spring flowing so that there is room for only one spirit. A new spirit. The Holy Spirit.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

This is the Spirit’s entry now: The water and the Word, The cross of Jesus on your brow, The seal both felt and heard. (LSB 591:1)

-Rev. Jacob Ehrhard, pastor of St. John's Lutheran Church and School in Chicago, IL.

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

Visit the timeless rhythms of the Christian life with award-winning author Harold L. Senkbeil. As he addresses the concerns and pressures of the world today, you'll discover that even while the world is dying, Christ's death brings about life. True life. One that He offers to you. Order Now!

March 13, 2025

Today's Reading: Catechism: The Creed - The First Article

Daily Lectionary: Genesis 11:27-12:20; Mark 4:21-41

He defends me against all danger and guards and protects me from all evil. (Small Catechism: The Creed - The First Article, Explanation)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

“Though devils all the world should fill, all eager to devour us, we tremble not, we fear no ill; they shall not overpower us.” Churches around the world sang these words this week after hearing how our Lord Jesus Christ overcame the devil and his temptations. These are words of sure confidence in the face of a powerful foe.

Although, let us not become overconfident. The devil is powerful, but he is also cunning. Scripture depicts him as an angel of light (2 Cor. 11:14), a prowling lion (1 Pet. 5:8), and a great liar and deceiver (Rev. 12:9). It would not be beyond that old serpent to throw a few battles and feign defeat in the hopes of winning the overall war for your soul.

Overconfidence happens when we turn from God’s provision and protection to our own powers. Overconfidence happens when our faith shifts from our heavenly Father to the strength of our own faith. Overconfidence is when we decide that it is God who needs the defense and protection and that we are the ones who can provide it. 

God does not need our apologetics.

The confidence that we have in the face of the old, evil foe, the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world, is the Truth. Not just any truth, but Truth with a capital T. Jesus is the Truth who stands up against the devil’s lies, even when they sound oh so sweet. And this Truth is God’s Word. He is the Word made flesh, and He cannot but speak the Word of God.

The Father sends us this Truth to defend us against all danger and guard and protect us from all evil. And it is this Truth upon which our faith rests and from which our confidence grows. Martin Luther’s famous hymn completes its third stanza with the ground of our confidence: “This world’s prince may still

Scowl fierce as he will, He can harm us none. He’s judged; the deed is done; One little word can fell him.” 

Put your faith in God’s Word, in Jesus Christ and His Gospel, for the Father cannot deny His own Word. He will guard you and protect you against all danger and evil.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Though devils all the world should fill, All eager to devour us, We tremble not, we fear no ill; They shall not overpow’r us. ( LSB 656:3)

-Rev. Jacob Ehrhard, pastor of St. John's Lutheran Church and School in Chicago, IL.

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

Visit the timeless rhythms of the Christian life with award-winning author Harold L. Senkbeil. As he addresses the concerns and pressures of the world today, you'll discover that even while the world is dying, Christ's death brings about life. True life. One that He offers to you. Order Now!

March 12, 2025

Today's Reading: Genesis 8:13-9:17

Daily Lectionary: Genesis 8:13-9:17; Genesis 9:18-11:26; Mark 4:1-20

“Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image.” (Genesis 9:6)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

There’s something special about the blood. Prior to the flood, God had given man “every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit” as food (Gen. 1:29). But when Noah emerged from the ark, God provided a new menu. “Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. And as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything” (Gen. 9:3).

There’s one caveat, though. “But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood” (Gen. 9:4). There’s something special about the blood. “The life of the flesh is in the blood,” says the Lord through Moses (Lev. 17:11). The blood has a special use. Because of this, the blood of man is sacred. “And for your lifeblood I will require a reckoning: from every beast I will require it and from man. From his fellow man I will require a reckoning for the life of man. ‘Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image’” (Gen. 9:5-6).

The ethical dimension of this declaration indicates that all human life has dignity because God made man in His own image. Shedding the blood of man is a direct assault upon God, and the penalty is severe. But an even more interesting spiritual dimension begins to emerge when you realize that Genesis 9 echoes Genesis 1. And when you compare God’s Word to Noah to His Word to Adam, you see what’s so special about the blood.

To both Noah and Adam, God makes a declaration concerning his image in a poetic verse (Gen. 1:27; Gen. 9: 6). He follows this declaration with a command and a blessing, “Be fruitful and multiply” (Gen. 1:28; Gen. 9:7). And He gives instructions concerning food. Adam receives all plants and Noah all meat. But God has a caveat for Adam, just as He has for Noah. Just as Noah was forbidden to eat the blood, Adam was forbidden to eat of the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.

The Tree of Knowledge had God’s Word attached to it, Martin Luther remarks, and so was a place of worship. Likewise, God reserved the blood for His Word and for worship. “Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins” (Words of Institution). There’s something special about the blood. 

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Lift we, then, our voices, Swell the mighty flood; Louder still and louder Praise the precious blood! (LSB 433:6)

-Rev. Jacob Ehrhard, pastor of St. John's Lutheran Church and School in Chicago, IL.

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

Visit the timeless rhythms of the Christian life with award-winning author Harold L. Senkbeil. As he addresses the concerns and pressures of the world today, you'll discover that even while the world is dying, Christ's death brings about life. True life. One that He offers to you. Order Now!

March 11, 2025 

Today's Reading: Romans 10:8b-13

Daily Lectionary: Genesis 7:11-8:12; Mark 3:20-35

“The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart.” (Romans 10:8b)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

St. Paul quotes Deuteronomy 30:14 to remind us of our proximity to the Word of God. “It is not in heaven,” Moses writes. “Neither is it beyond the sea.” Though it is indeed a heavenly Word and a foreign Word, that does not make it inaccessible. “The word is very near you.” (Deuteronomy 30:11-14).

How did this Word get so close? St. Paul gives a parenthetical remark: “‘The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart’ (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim).” The Word comes near by proclamation. The heavenly, foreign Word of God comes to us on earth from preachers sent by God to every nation. The prophets of old brought the Word of God near to His people of old, and now His Word is brought to every nation by the apostolic ministry of the Church.

But the center of it all is Jesus Christ. He is the Word made flesh (John 1), the one to whom the prophets pointed and the one who sends out His chosen apostles and their successors. In Christ, the Word has come very near to humanity by joining Himself with our humanity. No matter where He went or what He did, it was always accompanied by a Word. 

When someone speaks, his words usually land in the ear, but with this Word, it’s different. “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart,” writes St. Paul as Moses had written before him. This Word lands not only in the ear but also in the mouth because this is the Word made flesh. “For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink” (John 6:55). 

Since you can’t eat a word (even a Word made flesh) like other bread, Jesus gives us bread along with this word: “Take, eat, this is my body.” In the Sacrament, He puts His Word in our mouths. And since this is no ordinary food, it does not travel to the stomach only to be expelled; it travels to our hearts and plants a new creation. 

From a new heart, then, comes new words from our own mouths. He puts His Word in our mouths to speak sanctified words of our very own. The Word is near you, very near indeed.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Lord, open now my heart to hear, And through Your Word to me draw near; Let me Your word e’er pure retain; Let me Your child and heir remain. (LSB 908:1)

-Rev. Jacob Ehrhard, pastor of St. John's Lutheran Church and School in Chicago, IL.

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

Visit the timeless rhythms of the Christian life with award-winning author Harold L. Senkbeil. As he addresses the concerns and pressures of the world today, you'll discover that even while the world is dying, Christ's death brings about life. True life. One that He offers to you. Order Now!

March 10, 2025

Today's Reading: Deuteronomy 26:1-11

Daily Lectionary: Genesis 6:1-7:5; Mark 3:1-19

And you shall rejoice in all the good that the Lord your God has given to you and to your house, you, and the Levite, and the sojourner who is among you. (Deuteronomy 26:11)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

God is, by nature, a gift-giver. The wandering Aramean who went down into Egypt and sojourned there became a great, mighty, and populous nation because of the Gift of God. And after He brought them out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, great deeds of terror, and not a few miracles, He continued to give Gifts. In the wilderness, it was bread from heaven, quail for meat, water from a rock, and countless other blessings. He gave unexpected military conquests and ultimately the fulfillment of the promise He had made long ago to that wandering Aramean’s family.

Now this great and mighty nation was on the doorstep of the land that the Lord God was giving them. It would not be long before they would plant and harvest more than milk and honey. In response to these many great Gifts, the Lord expected a response. A Gift received without a thank-you is theft. Robbery. The Lord God Himself defined the return Gift—an offering of firstfruits. But it wasn’t just the first of the fruit that God required. He also required a confession of faith. “And the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great deeds of terror, with signs and wonders. And he brought us into this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey. And behold, now I bring the first of the fruit of the ground, which you, O Lord, have given me” (Deut. 26:8-10).

God doesn’t just establish a principle for stewardship. The firstfruits offering was a liturgical offering connected to the great feasts of Israel. The liturgy, which Israel enacted year after year, was in anticipation of what God Himself would do—offer a Gift of His first and best.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). God did not hold back and give us His second-best. He gave His one and only Son, the firstborn of creation (Col. 1:15), begotten of His Father before all worlds. He gave Him up as an offering on the cross. But then, on the day following the Sabbath in the week of Unleavened Bread, as the priest waved an offering of firstfruits at the altar, Jesus rose from the dead. 

“But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Cor. 15:20). By giving your first and best to God, you are not just demonstrating sound finances and good Christian stewardship. You are confessing the resurrection. 

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

We give Thee but Thine own, Whate’er the gift may be; All that we have is Thine alone, A trust, O Lord, from Thee. (LSB 781:1)

-Rev. Jacob Ehrhard, pastor of St. John's Lutheran Church and School in Chicago, IL.

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

Visit the timeless rhythms of the Christian life with award-winning author Harold L. Senkbeil. As he addresses the concerns and pressures of the world today, you'll discover that even while the world is dying, Christ's death brings about life. True life. One that He offers to you. Order Now!

March 9, 2025 

Today's Reading: Luke 4:1-13

Daily Lectionary: Genesis 4:1-26; Mark 2:18-28

The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone.’” (Luke 4:3-4)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

Did you catch that? It’s subtle, but it says a world about how the thoughts of the devil and Jesus are fundamentally and diametrically opposed. The devil says to Jesus, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” He appeals to Jesus’ divinity and His almighty power to turn a stone into bread. Of course, Jesus could command the stone to be bread just as easily as God commanded light to shine in the darkness or fish to swarm the sea. But that’s not why He’s wandering in the wilderness. The truth is that the Son of God does not live on bread, let alone any other form of physical food. By summoning the power of His divine nature, Jesus could have continued to fast for 40 years as He wandered through the wilderness. But that is not His concern.

“Though he was in the form of God, [He] did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,” St. Paul writes (Phil. 2:6). In response to the devil’s taunt, Jesus does not identify with His divine nature nor muster His divine power. Instead, He identifies with His human nature. “And Jesus answered him, ‘It is written, “Man shall not live by bread alone.”’” Even as a man, it’s not bread that He needs. “Man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord,” says the Law (Deut. 8:3).

The devil’s first temptation of Jesus rhymes with his first temptation of man. “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Gen. 3:5). “Be like God, and eat,” says the devil. But to this, God says, “Listen, and be like God.” For God’s Word restores His image and likeness by forgiving our sins and cleansing us from all unrighteousness. To be good and holy and right is the image and likeness of God.

Having made us like Him once again, God invites us to eat. Man does not live by bread alone, but the Lord has found it good to give us His Word with bread to eat and wine to drink. Thanks be to God for this bread and for the bread that sustains us every day.

 In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

O Lord God, You led Your ancient people through the wilderness and brought them to the promised land. Guide the people of Your Church that following our Savior we may walk through the wilderness of this world toward the glory of the world to come; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. (Collect for the First Sunday in Lent)

-Rev. Jacob Ehrhard, pastor of St. John's Lutheran Church and School in Chicago, IL.

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

Visit the timeless rhythms of the Christian life with award-winning author Harold L. Senkbeil. As he addresses the concerns and pressures of the world today, you'll discover that even while the world is dying, Christ's death brings about life. True life. One that He offers to you. Order Now!

March 8, 2025

Today's Reading: Introit for Lent 1 - Psalm 91:9-13; antiphon: Psalm 91:15-16

Daily Lectionary: Genesis 3:1-24; Mark 2:1-17

“He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.” (Psalm 91:11)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Coming up tomorrow is the Temptation of Jesus. We will hear the devil tempt our Savior three times. In one of those temptations, Satan will quote Psalm 91, part of which will be the Introit tomorrow morning. He will argue that Jesus should throw Himself down because the Lord “will command His angels concerning you.” But the devil leaves out what the command will be, skipping forward to just the results. 

But the command is important. It is “to guard you in all your ways.” Stepping off of the pinnacle of the temple is the epitome of an unguarded way. But ways are more than just a footpath you might take your feet on. The ‘way’ in which you live is also meant. That presents us with a problem and Satan with an opportunity. Because we sin. We fall short. We fail when faced with temptation. And for those few short moments where we thought, maybe, that we succeeded, the temptation grows only stronger the next time we face it. Then evil befalls us, and plagues come near our tents.

But the devil accidentally points something out to us. This Psalm is about Jesus. Because it’s Jesus who treads on the adder. It’s Jesus who tramples the young serpent underfoot. Jesus crushes the devil’s head, that ancient serpent, while Satan bruises His heel. Jesus’ feet nailed to a cross. Crucified to overthrow the accusations of the accuser forever. 

In doing that, all those sins have been taken away. All those failed temptations have been forgiven. Jesus has become your way, and He's the one who keeps you on His path. He has forgiven you. He has given you repentance. He has given you hope. He has given you resurrection. He has given you eternal life. 

And now, when temptation’s hour comes, you have an advocate. You have Jesus fighting by your side. You don’t need to face these things alone. You have Christ, who has overcome your temptation already right here with you. And with Him He brings His Church. You have brothers and sisters in Christ who have also faced those temptations, fallen to those temptations, and have been likewise rescued by Christ. Do not forget their wisdom and experience, for they didn't get through it alone, either. 

Jesus Christ has overcome temptation for you. He has won life, forgiveness, and salvation for you. And He walks with you even now on your way.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

O Christ, You walked the road Our wand’ring feet must go. Stay with us through temptation’s hour To fight our ancient foe. (LSB 424:5)

-Rev. Eli Davis, pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Grants Pass, OR.

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

Visit the timeless rhythms of the Christian life with award-winning author Harold L. Senkbeil. As he addresses the concerns and pressures of the world today, you'll discover that even while the world is dying, Christ's death brings about life. True life. One that He offers to you. Order Now!

March 7, 2025

Today's Reading: Mark 1:29-45

Daily Lectionary: Genesis 2:4-25; Mark 1:29-45

“That evening at sundown they brought to Him all who were sick or oppressed by demons.” (Mark 1:32)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Why did they wait until evening to bring people to Jesus? Turns out, back in verse 21, we find out it was the Sabbath Day until the sun went down. And even though Jesus had already driven out a demon in the synagogue, and healed Peter’s mother-in-law’s fever on the Sabbath, they were worried that getting healed on the Sabbath might count as work and that would get them in trouble. 

Remember the Sabbath Day by keeping it holy. It’s the Third Commandment. But our Sabbath rest doesn’t come from inactivity. Our Sabbath rest is Jesus. Our Lord doesn’t stop taking care of our needs, just because it’s between Friday Sundown and Saturday sundown. 

And our greatest needs are the forgiveness of our sins, the covering of our shame, the destruction of death, and the conquering of the devil. Jesus keeps the Sabbath in our place by doing that work. On Good Friday (Thursday sundown to Friday sundown), Jesus was betrayed and arrested and denied and had false witness bore about Him. On Good Friday, Jesus was beaten and whipped and mocked, and sentenced to death. On Good Friday, Jesus was nailed to a cross, lifted up, suffered, and died. On Good Friday, Jesus was taken down, placed in a tomb, and had the opening closed. 

All the work of Good Friday Jesus did for you. He did it to heal you. To drive away your demons. To forgive you. To take away your shame. To destroy death. To conquer the devil forever. And from that work, He rested. On the Sabbath, from Friday sundown to Saturday sundown, to Sunday before the break of dawn, Jesus rested in that tomb. Jesus rested in death. And then, He got up in the morning to start the week anew. To start the week with your salvation. 

Our rest isn’t found in inactivity. Our rest is found in Jesus. 

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

I heard the voice of Jesus say, “Come unto Me and rest; Lay down, thou weary one, lay down thy head upon My breast.” I came to Jesus as I was, so weary worn and sad; I found in Him a resting place, and He has made me glad. (LSB 699:1)

-Rev. Eli Davis, pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Grants Pass, OR.

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

Visit the timeless rhythms of the Christian life with award-winning author Harold L. Senkbeil. As he addresses the concerns and pressures of the world today, you'll discover that even while the world is dying, Christ's death brings about life. True life. One that He offers to you. Order Now!

March 6, 2025

Today's Reading: Catechism: Close of the Commandments

Daily Lectionary: Genesis 1:20-2:3; Mark 1:14-28

What does God say about all these commandments?

He says, “I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate Me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commandments.” (Ex. 20: 5–6)

What does this mean? 

God threatens to punish all who break these commandments. Therefore, we should fear His wrath and not do anything against them. But He promises grace and every blessing to all who keep these commandments. Therefore, we should also love and trust in Him and gladly do what He commands.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

Why does God give His Commandments? It’s not because He has some spare commandments lying around and wants to keep us busy. It’s not that He needs something for us to do to show how much we like Him. God commands us to do (or not do) because He doesn’t want those He loves to be hurt. 

Coveting our neighbor’s stuff and relationships causes hurt. Taking away our neighbor’s life, family, things, and reputation causes hurt. Rejecting authority causes hurt. Rebelling against God causes hurt. And our Lord isn’t happy when we hurt those whom He loves, even when we hurt ourselves. 

Jesus loves you. That’s not just some Sunday School song. The creator of all things cares so much for you, His creation, that He will give His life for your sake. He sacrifices Himself to pay for your sins. And He does all this before you’ve even done anything yet. His love is not earned. It is given freely to you. 

Breaking those Commandments is to throw away God’s Gifts of love, of life, of forgiveness and to cling instead to sin and death. There are consequences for that. And those consequences do last for generations. I think of the things screwed up in my own family, and I see them passed down to my kids. And I don’t want that for them. But I also see the faith that has been passed down from generation to generation. And maybe you’re the very first generation in your family to trust Christ. There is His promise; hold tight to it. 

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! (LSB 581:12)

-Rev. Eli Davis, pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Grants Pass, OR.

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

Visit the timeless rhythms of the Christian life with award-winning author Harold L. Senkbeil. As he addresses the concerns and pressures of the world today, you'll discover that even while the world is dying, Christ's death brings about life. True life. One that He offers to you. Order Now!

March 5, 2025 

Today's Reading: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21

Daily Lectionary: Genesis 1:1-19; Mark 1:1-13

“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:1)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

It’s always fascinating that the Gospel reading for Ash Wednesday, the day we put very visible ashes upon our foreheads as a sign of our repentance, is the one in which Jesus says not to let your good works be seen by others. So what did we just do then? 

Don’t we want to be seen? Don’t we want the good works, carried out in faith, to be seen by the world? Just a few verses earlier, Jesus does say, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16 ESV) Don’t our good works at least get people to ask why anyone would do these things? At least start a conversation? 

They may. But remember, Jesus is criticizing those who do things in order that they might be praised for them. And that’s a far more present danger than putting some ashes on in public. Who doesn’t love praise? Yes, please thank me for helping others in need. Shower me with gifts to show how much you appreciate my awesome praying skills. Maybe those aren’t your go-to works. But when we start expecting rewards for doing the right thing, then our hearts are far from being in the right place. 

It is better to do good with no praise at all than to do good in order to get something for me out of it. This is how Christ does His greatest work of all. There isn’t anyone patting Him on the back for going up on that cross on the day He goes. They’re all telling Him that they’ll pat Him on the back if He comes down. There’s no one telling Jesus how awesome He is for bearing the sins of the world. They’re scoffing at His inability to do anything for Himself. 

However, by Jesus’ very public work of dying on that cross and paying for all our sin, He saved us all. Our sins are forgiven. Our shame has been carried. Our death has been overcome. And we’re made God’s children, clothed in His righteousness, and given a seat at His table. 

As far as the ashes go, ask what they’re there for. I mean, it’s possible you might do it for praise. But probably, the response of the world will be, “What did you do to your forehead?” However, if they’re there to remind you of your repentance, then they are well and good. For in repentance, we turn from our sinful hearts and look forward to the sure and certain hope of Christ’s forgiveness and the resurrection that He has for us. 

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Death you cannot end my gladness: I am baptized into Christ! When I die I leave all sadness To inherit paradise! Though I lie in dust and ashes Faith’s assurance brightly flashes: Baptism has the strength divine To make life immortal mine. (LSB 594:4)

-Rev. Eli Davis, pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Grants Pass, OR.

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

Visit the timeless rhythms of the Christian life with award-winning author Harold L. Senkbeil. As he addresses the concerns and pressures of the world today, you'll discover that even while the world is dying, Christ's death brings about life. True life. One that He offers to you. Order Now!