November 2, 2024

Today's Reading: Introit for Pentecost 24 - Psalm 89:1-4; antiphon: Psalm 9:1

Daily Lectionary: Jeremiah 1:1-19; Matthew 21:23-46

I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all Your wonderful deeds. (Psalm 9:1)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The story is told of a woman wanting to look her best for her daughter’s wedding. “Don’t worry, ma’am,” said the hairdresser, “I’ll do you justice.” “Justice!” cried the lady. “I don’t need justice! I need mercy!”

An Old Testament prophet cries out to God that in wrath He would remember mercy (Habakkuk 3:2). That mercy is the “steadfast love” the psalmist is singing about in tomorrow’s Introit. “I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord, forever (89:1).”

It is “the steadfast love of the Lord” that sent Jesus to the cross for you to suffer and die for your sins. It is “the steadfast love of the Lord” that sends Jesus in your Baptism to keep the promise of His cross a present reality in the face of all your sins today. It is “the steadfast love of the Lord” that sends Jesus in the absolutions and sermons you hear from your pastor. And it is “the steadfast love of the Lord” that sends Jesus with the bread and wine at Holy Communion tomorrow, “for you, for the forgiveness of sins.”

After all, God made a covenant with His “chosen one,” with “David my servant,” that He would “establish” his “offspring forever,” and “build” his “throne for all generations” (Psalm 89:3-4). That is what will be happening in tomorrow’s Divine Service. For that Offspring is Jesus, and that throne is God’s throne of grace. God is fulfilling His covenant with David, establishing Jesus, David’s Son and David’s Lord, forever on David’s throne. 

That is good news for all of us because God knows our sins. He knows the dreaded fear we have because of our sins. But tomorrow, because of Jesus, God will be calling us to a lively trust, a joyful confidence in His steadfast love for all sinners. Because the justice God will promise tomorrow is the mercy He promised and accomplished for you the first time He sent Jesus. And it will be the same “steadfast love” the Lord sends and accomplishes for you when He sends Jesus on the Last Day.

“The steadfast love of the Lord” “will be built up forever.” Thank God, because that means salvation for all of us. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

Let children hear the mighty deeds Which God performed of old, Which in our younger days we saw, And which our parents told. So make to them His glories known, His works of pow’r and grace; And we’ll convey His wonders down Through ev’ry rising race. (LSB 867:1, 2)

-Rev. Bradley Drew, pastor of Mount Olive Lutheran Church in Metairie, LA.

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

Spend time reading and meditating on God’s Word throughout the Church Year with the Enduring Grace Journal. Includes scripture readings, prayers, prompts, and space for journaling. The Church Year Journal, Enduring Grace, now available from Concordia Publishing House.