October 19, 2024 

Today's Reading: Introit for Pentecost 22 - Psalm 34:1-4, 17; antiphon: Psalm 34:18

Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 18:1-22; Matthew 14:22-36

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. (Psalm 34:18)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The beauty of Holy Scripture is that it clearly tells us who God saves… the broken, the weak, the weary, the downtrodden, the sick, and the dying… just to name a few. Too often, though, we hear those around us stating things like: “God is worthy of our praise,” “Praise the Lord always,” “Make a joyful noise,”… and so on. Often enough, though, these quippy truisms fall flat… after all, we sinners still live in a fallen and sinful world.

Praise is a wonderful thing, but we live in an age where our understanding of this word has unfortunately affected our theology. For example, many expect praise for doing the things that they ought to be doing. How often have you sought accolades for cleaning your room or rearranging the desk in your office? Twenty-eight years ago, right around 1996 (ancient history to most of you), athletes were ‘awarded’ ribbons just for participating… praise was given just because you tried and gave it your all. This way of thinking is corrosive and exceedingly terrible in the regular world, but in many ways, it’s infiltrated theology… many in 2024 believe that God is pleased with us just because of the effort we put in. Others believe they are entitled to the Gifts that God gives and are moved to praise God only when their needs are met.  

David writes Psalm 34 for our benefit and to reveal to us that praise is rightly given to God, not because He wants or needs it from us. He doesn’t want our praise so He can reward the one who praises the most… David says that we praise God continually because He never stops giving! He never ceases to give us all of the things that are most needful. Notice also… David writes that although we might praise God for what He’s done for us individually, there is all the more joy when we praise God together in the wonderful realization that He’s bought us back from sin and death, too! We praise Him because we, in our sin, know that we deserve nothing but eternal death and condemnation… yet the judgment we’ve received from Him is this: on account of Christ and for His sake, we are judged NOT GUILTY… righteous on account of Christ. Like prisoners set free from shackles and certain death, we rejoice together at our amazing good fortune… as those once dead in sin, we rejoice as the living in Christ who has given us life. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

O wondrous Love, whose depth no heart hath sounded, that brought Thee here, by foes and thieves surrounded! All worldly pleasures, heedless, I was trying while Thou wert dying. (LSB 439:7)

-Rev. Adam DeGroot, pastor of Calvary Lutheran Church in Rio Rancho, NM.

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

In Embracing Your Lutheran Identity, Author Gene Edward Veith Jr. will guide readers through that heritage, starting with the Early Church and moving through the Reformation to Lutheranism today. Readers will learn about key people in the history of Lutheranism, from two teenagers who were the first martyrs of the Reformation, through the Saxon immigrants who left everything behind so they could practice Lutheranism freely, to the Lutherans who have stood strong for the faith in our own day.