September 5, 2025

Today's Reading: Ephesians 4:25-5:14

Daily Lectionary: 2 Kings 2:19-25; 4:1-7; Ephesians 4:25-5:14 

“Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” (Ephesians 4:30)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

There is a false teaching that says that no one could be lost if they have ever come to saving faith. Popularly going by the slogan, “Once saved, always saved,” this is a horrible false teaching. One reason this is so horrible is that it leads people to think that it does not matter if they lead a sinful life or not, because they’re automatically in, no matter what. But that’s not what our Scripture reading says.

Today, Paul warns the Ephesians to “not grieve the Holy Spirit.” Grieving the Holy Spirit is when a believing Christian nevertheless turns to a life of intentional, willful sin against the Ten Commandments. We see this with King David, who lost the Holy Spirit for many months after he slept with Uriah’s wife. There are various other Scriptural and life examples as well where someone had the faith and lost it. When the Holy Spirit is grieved, He flees the person’s heart and takes saving faith with Him, too. This is one reason why sexual sin is especially dangerous. It is a faith killer.

Once saved, always saved? No. But what we can say, and are glad to say, is that even the lost can be found. Even when Christians fall into sin, God calls them to renewed repentance for all their sins. No one living is hopeless. No one living is outside of God’s desire to redeem. God wants all to be saved, to repent and believe in the Gospel. Our sins abound. We would be lost without the mercy of Jesus. But He is merciful. He gave His life for sinners. He died for all sins - even future sins that haven’t been done. He defeated death for us by His glorious resurrection. Now He sends His Holy Spirit by His Word, even when people have turned away. By that Word, the Holy Spirit comes. He brings the unrepentant to repent, and the repentant to faith in Christ. The Holy Spirit can restore faith to those who have fallen away - He did with King David, after all. He sent Nathan the prophet, whose words of the Law broke David’s hardness of heart, and whose words of the Gospel restored David to saving faith. Then, as a fruit of saving faith, the Holy Spirit restores the forgiven believer to holiness of living.

The Holy Spirit has sealed you for the day of redemption. He did not come to sanctify sin, but He did come to sanctify you. And through faith in Christ alone, you remain God’s temple, and the Holy Spirit dwells in you. Continue in this faith and in a God-pleasing life!

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Let me be Thine forever, My faithful God and Lord; Let me forsake Thee never Nor wander from Thy Word. Lord, do not let me waver, But give me steadfastness, And for such grace forever Thy holy name I’ll bless. (LSB 689:1)

Rev. Robert Mayes, pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church and Zion St. John Lutheran Church, Beemer and Wisner, NE.

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

Study the early Church Fathers, Scripture, and Christian history alongside FLAME's conversational voice to see for yourself why their teachings from Scripture are important to study, and live out, today.

September 4, 2025

Today's Reading: Catechism: Who Receives This Sacrament Worthily?

Daily Lectionary: 2 Kings 2:1-18; Ephesians 4:1-24

Fasting and bodily preparation are certainly fine outward training. But that person is truly worthy and well prepared who has faith in these words: ‘Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.’  But anyone who does not believe these words or doubts them is unworthy and unprepared, for the words ‘for you’ require all hearts to believe. (Small Catechism part 6, “Who receives this Sacrament worthily?”)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

The Lord’s Supper can be confusing, especially when it comes to church fellowship. The issue of closed Communion has been tough to understand, let alone explain to friends and family of other churches not in fellowship with your church. But the issue all comes back to what Holy Scripture says about worthiness. 1 Corinthians 11:27-30 is the place to find this. Go read it.

Worthy eating of the Lord’s Supper does not mean “better than you” eating. Worthy eating is based on faith in these words, “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.” Those who confess this Christian faith in the same way are welcome to take, eat, and drink. Since the Sacrament harms people who eat it unworthily, closed Communion protects them. If someone does not believe this bread IS Jesus’ body and the wine IS His blood, if they disagree about the Gospel or original sin, they do not have the same confession of the faith. And the Sacrament would harm them, even while it helped you.

It’s like prescription medicines. Prescription medicines help the people for whom they are prescribed, but they harm people for whom they are not prescribed. So it is with the Lord’s Supper, the medicine of immortality. Those who share the same faith in Christ and His Words, and confess this faith the same are like those who have the same sickness and are prescribed the same medicine. They can safely take the Sacrament together. But loved ones, friends, and neighbors who do not believe this nor confess this the same should wait until they come to the same faith and the same confession. For Scripture says, unworthy eating harms them. This is why closed Communion matters.

But closed Communion does not mean lovelessness, either. We want people to be worthy. We want family who don’t agree with us, or friends of a church not in fellowship with us, to be able to take Communion. We also just want them to take it safely. So perhaps the best approach is to say, “Let’s make that happen. Let’s go, ask the pastor to teach us. I’ll be your sponsor and sit in your classes with you.” Then, you both may be able to safely take the Sacrament together in the only worthy way. God grant His Word and Spirit to bring unity where there is division.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

At Your feet I cry, my maker, Let me be a fit partaker Of this blessed food from heaven, For our good, Your glory, given. (LSB 636:6)

Rev. Robert Mayes, pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church and Zion St. John Lutheran Church, Beemer and Wisner, NE.

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

Study the early Church Fathers, Scripture, and Christian history alongside FLAME's conversational voice to see for yourself why their teachings from Scripture are important to study, and live out, today.

September 3, 2025

Today's Reading: 1 Kings 19:1-21

Daily Lectionary: 1 Kings 19:1-21; 1 Kings 20:1-22:53; Ephesians 3:1-21

“And the angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched [Elijah] and said, ‘Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.’” (1 Kings 19:7)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

On the run from the enraged Queen Jezebel, Elijah went as far as he could go. But it wasn’t far enough. Exhausted in the wilderness, alone and having no food, that was the least of the prophet’s problems. For if Queen Jezebel’s army caught up to him, Elijah was a dead man. And his own power and strength could not save him.

This is your problem, too. In the wilderness of this life, you also cannot go the whole way by your own power and strength. Relying on your own abilities gets you into the middle of a wilderness, exhausted and all alone. Do not think too highly of your strength. See how little ability you have to keep God’s Commandments perfectly. To make things worse, the threat of certain death for your sins looms over you as well. You cannot overcome your own mortality. Your own power and strength cannot save you.

Elijah was spared when God sent an angelic messenger with a word of grace. That word was, “Arise and eat.” This is truly a word of God’s grace, because it promised and gave to Elijah what he had not deserved. This Word brought Elijah a heaven-sent food. It was bread from heaven, a new manna for a new wilderness journey. Elijah ate, not just once but twice. In other words, God gave Elijah this word of grace and this heavenly bread, again and again, because it gave him strength, hope, and life that he did not have.

You also are like Elijah. All you can rely on is God’s Word of grace in Christ Jesus. His cross has won salvation for all sinners. His empty tomb has defeated your death. Now, His gracious Word carries to you the life and salvation His cross won. Here is life for you! You are not alone anymore, because through faith, God mystically joins you to Him. You no longer have to rely on your own power and strength, for you have God’s gracious promise in Jesus. Even better, God’s Word of grace directs you to arise and eat a new food from heaven in the Sacrament of the Altar. Arise and eat, again and again. In the Body and Blood of Jesus, there is strength, hope, and life for you. The journey is too great for you, but not if you go by the strength of this new heavenly manna.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

My Lord, You here have led me To this most holy place And with Yourself have fed me The treasures of Your grace; For You have freely given What earth could never buy, The bread of life from heaven That now I shall not die. (LSB 642:2)

Rev. Robert Mayes, pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church and Zion St. John Lutheran Church, Beemer and Wisner, NE.

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

Study the early Church Fathers, Scripture, and Christian history alongside FLAME's conversational voice to see for yourself why their teachings from Scripture are important to study, and live out, today.

September 2, 2025

Today's Reading: Hebrews 13:1-17

Daily Lectionary: 1 Kings 18:20-40; Ephesians 2:1-22

“The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:6)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

The Lord helps you. And not because of anything you have done to merit this gracious favor. And also not because of who you are, who you are related to, or how much you have. Instead, God gives divine help to you simply out of grace, giving you better than you have deserved.

For you are a sinner who should be judged by God. You have not always loved God above all things. You likewise have not shown brotherly love at all times to your neighbor. You have acted selfishly. You have spoken what you should not have said. Your thoughts have been tainted with sinful desires like lust or revenge. What is worse, you are unable to help yourself when it comes to making God pleased with you. You cannot charm God, wrapping Him around your little finger to get special treatment.

So why would the Lord ever want to be your helper? On account of Jesus’ perfect life in your place, His sacrificial death, and His blood shed to cover your sins. “He has redeemed me, a lost and condemned person, purchased and won me from all sins, death and the power of the devil, not with gold or silver, but with His holy precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death.” (Explanation to the 2nd Article of the Creed, the Small Catechism). There is nothing in you that merits God’s divine help, but there is everything in Jesus’ death in your place that merits this.

And He gives this great salvation to you freely. Free gift! No strings attached! No conditions put upon receiving it! It is for you. God loved us when we were His enemies. So for this reason alone, He helps. And the help God gives is 100% done by Him. He does everything for you and your salvation. You simply receive. That’s what faith in Christ does. Faith holds to Jesus and His promises made in Holy Scripture, which cannot be broken. Therefore, you can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” 

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Since Christ has full atonement made And brought to us salvation, Each Christian therefore may be glad And build on this foundation. Your grace alone, dear Lord, I plead, Your death is now my life indeed, For You have paid my ransom. (LSB 555:6)

Rev. Robert Mayes, pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church and Zion St. John Lutheran Church, Beemer and Wisner, NE.

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

Study the early Church Fathers, Scripture, and Christian history alongside FLAME's conversational voice to see for yourself why their teachings from Scripture are important to study, and live out, today.

September 1, 2025

Today's Reading: Proverbs 25:2-10

Daily Lectionary: 1 Kings 18:1-19; Ephesians 1:1-23

“Do not reveal another's secret, lest he who hears you bring shame upon you, and your ill repute have no end.” (Proverbs 25:9b-10)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Some words were never meant to be said. Proverbs teaches that the secrets of your neighbor are not to be shared. A secret is anything kept from general awareness that would bring shame if it were revealed. Whether it’s a secret crush, a regrettable past incident, or a fear few others know, no one likes to have their secrets made public.

Sometimes you have to speak, though. If the secret is dangerous to that person or to others, or to someone’s property, this should not stay secret. Because this is no longer about covering shame. This is about protecting a person. If a friend tells you he is suicidal, you need to tell people in authority who can help. The friend might not want you to. They might say they won’t trust you again if you do tell. But you need to help that person, and there are good ways to work through this situation. One good way is to encourage the other person that they should tell their harmful secret to people who love them. Parents, teachers, pastors, police officers, God gave us these authorities for such reasons. But promise to be with your friend the whole way and support them as they reveal their secret. It may be hard for them, but it is easier if you or another friend is with them.

Where someone could be harmed, a secret must be told, and in the best situation, by the person who has that secret himself. But where it’s a matter of covering someone’s shameful and regretted words, actions, or thoughts, then secrets should be kept hidden. In Eden, God covered Adam and Eve’s shame by clothing them with animal skins. God did not speak about how shameful they were. Instead, God shed blood - the first blood shed in Scripture - as a way to cover the shame of our first parents. Jesus likewise covers shame by His blood. Romans 10:11 says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” So Jesus takes our shame away as the pure Gospel that faith clings to is preached. The Lord’s Supper likewise applies Jesus’ blood on you. And shame is covered and removed.

Proverbs directs us to speak like God. Since God does not uncover shame, let us not uncover our neighbor’s shame. Let us speak the truth in love, having love so that our neighbor’s personal shame is not revealed. In this way, we treat our neighbor the way that God has treated us.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Help us that we Thy saving Word In faithful hearts may treasure; Let e’er that Bread of Life afford New grace in richest measure. O make us die to every sin, Each day create new life within, That fruits of faith may flourish. (LSB 693:2)

Rev. Robert Mayes, pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church and Zion St. John Lutheran Church, Beemer and Wisner, NE.

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

Study the early Church Fathers, Scripture, and Christian history alongside FLAME's conversational voice to see for yourself why their teachings from Scripture are important to study, and live out, today.

August 31, 2025

Today's Reading: Luke 14:1-14

Daily Lectionary: 1 Kings 16:29-17:24; 2 Corinthians 10:1-13:14; 2 Corinthians 9:1-15

“Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 14:11)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

It has been said that pride was the cause of the devil’s fall from a good angel into an evil one. This view was held by some early Christians, and also by Martin Luther. About pride, Luther also said, “Whoever trusts and boasts that he possesses great skill, prudence, power, favor, friendship, and honor has also a god, but not this true and only God." (LC I:1.10). Pride is defined as the love of one’s own excellence. But where one loves himself and his excellence above all things, he turns himself into his own false god.  

Jesus, God’s Son made man, knows pride is dangerous. So He teaches the wedding feast parable. Those taking the highest place at a wedding reception will be humbled and forced to sit lower. There is no higher place at a wedding reception than the seats where the bride and groom sit. Imagine the audacity of a guest kicking the groom out of his place of honor! But that’s what pride does. Pride kicks Christ, the Bridegroom of the Church, out of His central place of honor.

What is the lowest place at a wedding reception? Perhaps the lowest place I can think of is if the wedding is in the middle of winter, and they have valets parking the cars. A shivering valet sits, waiting for the next car, but is not welcome to eat or drink. This would definitely be the lowest place at a winter wedding. So it will be for those who upstage Christ. They will be taken from the banquet, forced to do uncomfortable labor, and unwelcome to eat at the heavenly feast.

But those who take the lowest place will be raised. These are repentant Christians who look in faith to Jesus for their salvation. So you who tremble because of your sins and rejoice in the Gospel that frees you, will be raised to honor on the Last Day. Christ, who died and rose, is the bridegroom. The Church is His Bride. So the sinner who trusts this Gospel for his salvation is raised to the highest place, the place of the Bride, along with all believing Christians. A bride rejoices in the love of her bridegroom and the new union they have together. So it is for the Church who believes in the Gospel of Jesus’ love, rejoices to hear it again, and is united even deeper in love and faithfulness together at the very end.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

O Lord of grace and mercy, teach us by Your Holy Spirit to follow the example of Your Son in true humility, that we may withstand the temptations of the devil and with pure hearts and minds avoid ungodly pride; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Rev. Robert Mayes, pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church and Zion St. John Lutheran Church, Beemer and Wisner, NE.

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

Study the early Church Fathers, Scripture, and Christian history alongside FLAME's conversational voice to see for yourself why their teachings from Scripture are important to study, and live out, today.

August 30, 2025

Today's Reading: Introit for Pentecost 12 - Psalm 75:1-2, 6, 9; antiphon: Psalm 75:7

Daily Lectionary: 1 Kings 12:20-13:5, 33-34; 1 Kings 14:1-16:28; 2 Corinthians 8:1-24

“We give thanks to you, O God; we give thanks, for your name is near.” (Psalm 75:1)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

Tomorrow’s introit reminds us of this blessed reality: the Name of the Lord is near. In fact, it is so near, it is upon you!

These are some awesome and particularly appropriate words for an introit—psalm verses for entering our Lord’s sanctuary and being brought into His presence.

You were given the ability to call on our holy and Triune God at your Baptism, when the Lord used your pastor to speak and wash you into new birth from above. In those joyous moments, the Name of the Lord came near as He placed His name upon you! “I baptize you in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.” 

Now the name of the Lord is so near, it is on you. In you. At Baptism, you were blessed with the Gift of calling on Him in prayer. Praying, praising, and giving thanks. God brings you, His child, to talk with Him “as dear children ask their dear father.”

The Word of the Lord continues bringing His name near. Your pastor preaches. In Bible Class, you are taught that Word, as His name comes near. The Word is spoken in conversations of encouragement among faithful family and friends, and that brings God’s name near, too.

Of course, the high point of every Lord’s Day is when the Name of the Lord is near, coming with the holy and precious Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. Here is the greatest moment of the presence of God. The clearest, most felt and experienced nearness of God and His Name. With His own flesh and blood, Jesus brings the name of God in, with, and under Him to permeate you, bless you, and nourish you with His forgiving and saving presence. Where His name is, there He is to make you His own.

So here we are, entering the sanctuary of the Holy Trinity, with His name washed onto us from Baptism and repeatedly placed on us with Word and Sacrament. With that holy name upon us, Jesus, who makes His name near, makes us worthy to enter His church building and receive Him yet again in Word and Sacrament, and we respond with giving thanks.

We give thanks to you, O God; we give thanks, for your name is near. (Psalm 75:1)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Baptized into Your name, most holy, O Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, I claim a place, though weak and lowly, Among Your saints, Your chosen host. Buried with Christ and dead to sin, Your Spirit now shall live within. (LSB 590:1)

Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church, Lowell, IN.

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

Study the early Church Fathers, Scripture, and Christian history alongside FLAME's conversational voice to see for yourself why their teachings from Scripture are important to study, and live out, today.

August 29, 2025 

Today's Reading: Mark 6:14-29

Daily Lectionary: 1 Kings 11:42-12:19; 2 Corinthians 7:1-16

“Some said, ‘John the Baptist has been raised from the dead.’”  (Mark 6:14)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

Jesus has a “creepy” cousin. You know the one: the “wild man.” He hung out in the wilderness, ate bugs, and went off on the sins of Herod, knowing full well that it could get him arrested and imprisoned – or worse. But like St. Bartholomew, he also held nothing back and spoke the truth. 

The most infamous truth he preached was against the sham of a marriage that Herod had with his brother’s ex-wife. He called Herod and his “wife” out on their adultery, and she was livid. She ended up forcing Herod’s hand in having John thrown into prison. Then, in one of the cringiest moments in Scripture, Mrs. Herod’s daughter (Herod’s niece-turned-stepdaughter) dances seductively, and he promises her whatever she wants. Her mother manipulates her to ask for the head of John the Baptist on a platter. (The Herods are textbook examples of dysfunction and cruel behavior.)

These events haunted Herod. He felt guilty and was superstitious that John might come back and torment him, or that God might punish him for this. Not only this unbelieving king, but the local people thought about all this, too. They were mesmerized by John and wondered if he was a prophet or even the Christ. And in the midst of the arrest, disappearance, and now beheading of John, “Some said, ‘John the Baptist has been raised from the dead.’”

Earlier, some were confused that John was the Christ. Now, some were confused that the Christ was John. People tend to misunderstand and become confused about a great many things when they try to understand God apart from His Word.

Not so with you. The Lord delivers His Word to you. He has called you to faith in the true Christ, supported by the preaching and preparation of St. John the Baptist. He witnesses the truth of the Gospel through the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus, along with His many martyrs, including “Creepy John” – St. John the Baptist.

John the Baptist has been raised from the dead? Soon. He has fallen asleep in Jesus, and is safe and blessed with the Lord, until the day when Christ Jesus will call him from his grave, join his head to his body, and glorify and resurrect John (and you and me) to live with him forever.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Almighty God, You gave Your servant John the Baptist to be the forerunner of Your Son, Jesus Christ, in both his preaching of repentance and his innocent death. Grant that we, who have died and risen with Christ in Holy Baptism, may daily repent of our sins, patiently suffer for the sake of the truth, and fearlessly bear witness to His victory over death; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.

Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church, Lowell, IN.

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

Study the early Church Fathers, Scripture, and Christian history alongside FLAME's conversational voice to see for yourself why their teachings from Scripture are important to study, and live out, today.

August 28, 2025 

Today's Reading: Catechism: How Can Bodily Eating and Drinking Do Such Great Things?

Daily Lectionary: 1 Kings 11:1-26; 2 Corinthians 6:1-18

Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. (Small Catechism, SA)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

Augustine had a lot to forgive. He was a wild child who knowingly avoided the Lord. His father was a pagan, but his mother was a Christian, so he was no stranger to the Church. Still, he was not a fan. This spiraled into one bad choice after another, so Augustine believed many false teachings and Manichean philosophies, lived in sin, fathered a child without marrying the mother, and still refused the biblical pleadings of his own mother.

As a Manichean, he believed that the soul was good and the body was evil. Augustine would have a hard time wrapping his brain around a biblical unity of body and soul. This would carry over to the Lord’s Supper. For Augustine, before coming to faith, the Eucharist would be extremely difficult to understand. How could the good and holy God take on flesh that would be evil? And how would He then take on flesh, in and with something earthly like bread? It’s all so confusing; How can bodily eating and drinking do such great things?

It is not just the bodily eating and drinking that does these things. The Lord works a miracle with the Sacrament. Each and every time, the Word of God, along with the eating and drinking of that bread and wine, gives the real and true flesh and blood of Jesus Christ. And that flesh and blood is not evil or corrupt, like the early Manichean Augustine thought. It is Body and Blood that is good and perfect and holy, placing your God into you, so you taste and see that the Lord is good!

In time, God rescued Augustine from his sin and brought him to faith. The extremely intelligent scholar and great speaker became a humble catechumen and member of the Church, and later, a great bishop and saint.

Augustine had a lot to forgive. You do, too. That is precisely why our good and holy Lord took on flesh and was born of the Virgin Mary. That is also precisely why He gives us His holy and precious Body and Blood in the Eucharist. As the perfect and holy body of Jesus enters you, your corrupt body is sanctified from within. Forgiveness, life, and salvation are given through these words, Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins so that you may be strengthened and preserved in body and soul to life everlasting. Amen.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Thy body, giv’n for me, O Savior, Thy blood which Thou for me didst shed, These are my life and strength forever, By them my hungry soul is fed. Lord, may Thy body and Thy blood Be for my soul the highest good! (LSB 619:1)

Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church, Lowell, IN.

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

Study the early Church Fathers, Scripture, and Christian history alongside FLAME's conversational voice to see for yourself why their teachings from Scripture are important to study, and live out, today.

August 27, 2025

Today's Reading: Luke 13:22-30

Daily Lectionary: 1 Kings 9:1-9; 10:1-13; 2 Corinthians 5:1-21

“Strive to enter through the narrow door… And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God.” (Luke 13:24a, 29)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

St. Monica encouraged her son, Augustine, toward the narrow door. She lived out her faith as an example. She prayed for her son and sought advice from her pastor and bishop, St. Ambrose. Yet it felt like nothing she did could move her son to faith.

Meanwhile, Augustine seemed to stray further from the narrow door of Christ and into the wide open perils of the day. His education introduced him to unbiblical and anti-Christ philosophies. In our times, we might say that he went off to school and partied, never checking out the campus ministry. He even fathered a baby outside of marriage.

There was nothing Monica could do to make Augustine go to the narrow door. For that matter, nothing that Augustine could do or say or think would get him to that door either. But that’s the point.

The Holy Spirit is the One who calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies. God answered Monica’s countless prayers favorably and eventually brought Augustine to faith. He turned him around and crafted Augustine into one of the greatest pastors and teachers of the faith in the history of the Church. But all of that had nothing to do with Augustine’s or Monica’s choices. It was the work of God.

The Spirit led Augustine, as He has led you, to the saving Gospel of Christ. The broad and easy road of this world is tempting and looks fun, but it only leads to death and destruction. Looking for other paths and entrances only leads to “weeping and gnashing of teeth.” It is the narrow door of Christ alone that brings you salvation.  

Be comforted, dear friends in Christ! In this passage, Jesus tells you that you have already been called to faith. You don’t need to look any further. The Holy Spirit has gathered you and multitudes from east and west, from north and south, to recline at table in the kingdom of God. As you receive the Holy Eucharist at His Table, He gives you the forgiveness and strength to continue the way to and through the narrow door of Jesus to be resurrected and live with Him eternally. 

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

O God, who is the Comforter of those that mourn, and the Salvation of those that hope in You, who graciously regarded the tearful pleading of saint Monica for the conversion of her son Augustine: grant, we implore You, that we may truly lament our sins and be made worthy to obtain Your gracious pardon; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church, Lowell, IN.

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

Study the early Church Fathers, Scripture, and Christian history alongside FLAME's conversational voice to see for yourself why their teachings from Scripture are important to study, and live out, today.