October 30, 2024 

Today's Reading: Jeremiah 31:7-9

Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 31:30-32:27; Matthew 20:1-16

For thus says the Lord: “Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob, and raise shouts for the chief of the nations; proclaim, give praise, and say, ‘O Lord, save your people, the remnant of Israel.’ (Jeremiah 31:7)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Who are you? Forget for a second how you would answer that question. How would God answer it? You are holy to God, righteous in His judgment, an heir to eternal life. That is how God would answer that question. 

It was that same promise to Israel of old that prompted the prophet to tell her to “shout aloud with gladness.” Not with fear, but gladness, because it seemed so strange to them, too. Not many years before, the Assyrians had carried many of their people away into captivity. Now, the Babylonians were doing the same. It seemed like Israel was defeated and that her people were conquered. 

Yet, notice God still calls them “the chief of the nations.” They certainly didn’t look the part, did they? That’s like God calling poor, miserable sinners holy in His sight. That’s like God declaring those who struggle with sin and all its ugly consequences righteous in His judgment. That’s like God calling those who ever offend Him and who justly deserve His temporal and eternal punishment His children, now.

But that is the promise of the cross. That is the promise God makes with you from the cross, every day, in your Baptism. It’s the promise you hear in God’s Word of pardon. And it’s the promise God places into you at the Holy Supper with Jesus’ Body and Blood.

Imagine a great company who had been carried far away, among whom many were blind and lame, some even pregnant, being brought back with tears of joy in their eyes, never once stumbling as they crossed over mountain, desert and sea. That is God’s promise to you, to all sinners, with the death of His own Son upon the cross. Not only will God be returning you safely to Himself, holy and righteous in His sight, He already has!

Who are you? What matters is not how you answer that question. What matters most is how God answers it. You are holy to Him. You are righteous in His judgment. You are His child. You are an heir to eternal life. That is how God answers that question. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

Satan, hear this proclamation: I am baptized into Christ! Drop your ugly accusation, I am not so soon enticed. Now that to the font I’ve traveled, All your might has come unraveled, And, against your tyranny, God, my Lord, unites with Me! (LSB 594:3)

-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.