October 11, 2025

Today's Reading: Introit for Pentecost 18 - Psalm 34:2-4, 17; antiphon: Psalm 48:1a

Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 9:23-10:22; Matthew 11:20-30

“My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad. Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together! I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.” (Psalm 34:2-4)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Here is a fun little exercise. What are you proud of? What do you boast in? What’s on your t-shirt when you walk out of your house? What’s on that baseball cap you wear all the time? Stickers on your car? Maybe a sports team, a particular brand, a school you attended (or hope to). Or maybe you’re really, really good at something. Maybe you can just absolutely sink a three-pointer, or you are convinced that your grilled cheese is the best, crispiest, gooiest grilled cheese with just the right balance of butter, cheese, and bread.

It’s good to take stock of these things eventually, and I am not telling you to stop being proud of these things. Your college football team is great fun, I am sure, and I know my grilled cheeses are always to my taste at least. It would be silly to make those things the base of your salvation, but you would be surprised what people do make their boast in. Eternally, I mean. It’s the really cool, high-up, attractive, and shiny things that people really like to put their fear, love, and trust in. Things like their works. Or their vocations. Or how well they do their vocations. Things that make us look really good, really pious, really on fire for what God has given us. To be sure, your vocation is a good thing, and you should strive to carry it out faithfully. Your neighbor really, really needs your good works. But it is not on those that you are saved. Your salvation, your soul's boast? It is all the Lord. It is all his doing. It is all what Christ has done for you. How He has saved you. How Jesus has paid the price for everything you do, yes, even when you get a little too into… well, you. In your Baptism, He washes you. In the Lord’s Supper, God himself feeds you. Every. Single. Week. Now that's really something to boast about.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Here we have a firm foundation, Here the refuge of the lost: Christ, the Rock of our salvation, Is the name of which we boast; Lamb of God, for sinners wounded, Sacrifice to cancel guilt! None shall ever be confounded Who on Him their hope have built. (LSB 451:4)

Rev. Jonathan Lackey, Pastor of Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.

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

Step back in time to the late Reformation and learn about a divisive yet inspirational figure: Matthias Flacius Illyricus. His contributions to Lutheranism still echo in our teachings today, from the Magdeburg Confession to parts of the Lutheran Confessions. Learning about Flacius’s life will help you understand more intricacies of the Reformation than ever before.