October 23, 2024

Today's Reading: Matthew 13:54-58

Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 24:10-25:10; Matthew 16:13-28

Where then did this man get all these things?” And they took offense at him. (Matthew 13:56-57)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. We would have taken offense, too. Imagine being raised in a house where mom and dad thought the oldest hung the moon. No, I mean, literally hung the moon. It might have been hard enough with Jesus always on the honor roll, winning the Christian Citizenship award all the time, and being the envy of every other parent. But “Hanger of Moon and Stars” was a bridge too far. “And they took offense at him.”

On this day, the Church celebrates the life of St. James of Jerusalem, Brother of Jesus and Martyr. Why? Because of the grace of God. For despite all the offense James had taken toward his Brother (John 7:3-5), the risen Jesus appeared to him first, before any of the apostles (1 Corinthians 15:7), calling James to faith in Him as his Savior, too. What grace.

Jesus does the same for you. Despite all the offense you take toward Him, Jesus comes to you every day in the promise of your Baptism, calling you to faith in Him as your Savior. Despite the offense you take toward Him, Jesus comes to you in the absolutions and sermons you hear from your pastor, calling you to faith in Him as your Savior. And, despite all the offense you and I take toward Him every day, Jesus still comes to us in the Holy Supper, calling us to faith in Him as our Savior, too, “for you, for the forgiveness of sins.”

Jesus knows the indignation in our own hearts, all the offense we take over how He rules and governs this life. He knows our own stubbornness to believe that our Big Brother really is Who He says He is. It’s why the church sets aside special days like these: to remind everyone that He gets us. And not just that He gets us, but to remind us that Jesus never stops coming to us and calling us to faith in Him as our Savior, too.

What grace. And James would be the first to say, this Jesus, this grace, is for everyone. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Heavenly Father, shepherd of Your people, You raised up James the Just, brother of our Lord, to lead and guide Your Church. Grant that we may follow his example of prayer and reconciliation and be strengthened by the witness of his death; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever, Amen. (Collect for St. James of Jerusalem, Brother of Jesus and Martyr)

-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.

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.