August 15, 2023

Today's Reading: Luke 1:39-55

Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 13:1-18, Acts 23:13-35

Luke 1:48: “for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;”

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

Blessed are you among women 

To be called the mother of God by the small whispering word

And so much worse by those without ears to hear.

The virgin shall conceive and bear abuse. 

But she named it all Immanuel.

God with us. 

For the belittled and the befouled 

The mocked and reviled, the virgin gives a hymn.

He has regard for the humiliated. 

who in their shame would prefer sticks and stones to words

 used to cause much deeper hurt 

He sheds precious blood and names the least of these holy.  

Exalting what has been profaned,

and blessing what others only curse.  

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Almighty God, You chose the Virgin Mary to be the mother of Your only Son. Grant that we, who are redeemed by His blood, may share with her in the glory of Your eternal kingdom; through Jesus Christ, our Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

-Pastor Harrison Goodman is Content Executive for Higher Things.

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

Study Christ's words on the cross to see how you can show more Christlike grace in your life. Perfect for group or individual study, each chapter has a Q&A at the end, and the back of the book includes a leader guide. Available now from Concordia Publishing House.