April 13, 2024 

Today's Reading: Psalm 30:1-5; antiphon: Psalm 16:11b

Daily Lectionary: Exodus 32:1-14, Luke 6:20-38

Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.”(Psalm 30:5b, from the Introit on the Third Sunday of Easter)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The Psalm used for the Introit tomorrow is a Psalm of thanksgiving and praise. It expresses the joy of having been delivered from a terrible situation. However, we tend to get so wrapped up in the joy, that we forget how it must have felt in those moments before the Lord gave relief. 

This Psalm is written in the first person. That makes this Psalm my prayer. Before I was drawn up, I was at the bottom. The foes were about to have an opportunity to rejoice over me. I had to cry for help. My soul was in Sheol, down in that pit. There was a whole night of weeping. And from the moment it started, I wanted it to be over. But it was not over right away. It did not end at my first prayer. I had to endure the night. 

In this sinful world, there will always be something that I must endure. Running away from it often only gets me into more trouble, more suffering. Covering it up only takes the joy out of everything else. I must learn to endure many things in this life, because I need to endure.

But needing to endure is not a sign of the Lord’s absence. It’s a sign of His presence. Because Christ endures with me. And Christ endures even more for my sake. Because Jesus Christ died on the cross for me and rose for me, I have His promise that I will not have to endure forever. There is an end to what I suffer. It may not be this moment. It may not be this day. But there is an end to suffering. There is an end to what I must endure. 

And when that end comes, there is nothing so joyful in all the world. Especially with Jesus enduring with us. And that’s our Introit tomorrow. There is joy when we receive a hard fought victory. There is joy in getting the help we need. There is joy in being healed. There is joy in the resurrection. There is joy in the forgiveness of sins. There is joy in being named a child of God. And that such joy comes at the end of endurance only magnifies the joy to a level we could never understand without going through all that. Jesus Christ is our morning. He has endured all for you. And endures all with you too. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Though with a scornful wonder  The world sees her oppressed, By schisms rent asunder, 

By heresies distressed, Yet saints their watch are keeping; Their cry goes up, “How long?”

And soon the night of weeping Shall be the morn of song. (LSB 644:3)

- Pastor Eli Davis is pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Grants Pass, Oregon.

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

A Complete Guide to Christian Symbols This collection of over 600 hand-drawn Christian symbols by artist and author Edward Riojas will teach you the extensive history of the imagery of the Church. Each symbol is a beautiful and historical connection to generations of Christians that have worshiped before you. A Complete Guide to Christian Symbols. Now available from Concordia Publishing House.