May 17, 2025

Today's Reading: Introit for Easter 5 - Psalm 98:2-6; antiphon: Psalm 98:1

Daily Lectionary: Leviticus 19:9-18, 26-37; Luke 11:14-36

“Oh sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.” (Psalm 98:1)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Jesus speaks to His lamb: My dear lamb, I made you with ears to hear so you can listen to My Word. I gave you a mouth to confess your faith. And I gave you a heart so you can have joy that overflows into songs of praise.

We will sing Psalm 98 in Church tomorrow. For hundreds of years before I was born of My mother, Mary, My people would pray this psalm as they waited for the Father to send the Messiah (me).

My flock rejoiced to sing these words, “Oh sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.” They didn’t yet know the wonderful way Psalm 98 would be fulfilled. For I AM the LORD from eternity, but I became man and was born to work salvation to give to you.

I left My place at the right hand of the Father and was humbled so I could lift you up. I was born with a physical right hand and a holy arm, the tiny body of a little baby. I used all my strength to love my Flock. When the time came, my hands were nailed to the cross, and I died for you. They pulled the nails out of my corpse when I was laid in the tomb for you. You can still see the marks of those nails in my hands and feet, for I was raised from the dead for you.

I am still both God and man and always will be. I sit in glory at the Father's right hand, watching over you, my lamb, and waiting to bring you home.

So, dear lamb, pray this psalm with joy! Sing together with all My flock! Your salvation has been won!

Jesus’ lamb responds: Amen! Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen! “For He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.”

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Alleluia. We know that Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; death no longer has dominion over Him. Alleluia. I Am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me. Alleluia. (Alleluia Verse for the 4th Sunday in Easter LSB Altar Book p. 794)

- Rev. Jeffrey Horn, pastor of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Escondido, CA.

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

Andrew R. Jones identifies ten lies Satan uses in attempts to dismantle God’s people and His kingdom. Find encouragement in God's Word of Truth and remember the final victory we have in our Savior, Jesus Christ.