June 11, 2026

Today's Reading: Mark 6:7-13

Daily Lectionary: Proverbs 9:1-18; John 13:21-38

“And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits.” (Mark 6:7)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Disciples are followers of Jesus - literally. Before Jesus’ ascension, the disciples went where He went. They did what He did. He taught, they listened. In this account in Mark, Jesus sends out the Twelve apostles. These men were disciples, but being an apostle meant that they were sent out to teach and to preach. They were given authority by Jesus and were given directions by Jesus.

Today, we remember the Apostle Barnabas. This is the guy who ‘vouched’ for Saul. In the early church, after Jesus ascended into heaven, there was a lot of persecution. You may remember that Saul was a high-ranking Jewish leader who had made it his mission to hunt disciples of Jesus and punish them, even to death. And yet, Jesus comes to Saul and confronts him about his sins. Jesus calls Saul to be one of His disciples—and even more—to be an apostle. Saul (later named Paul) was going to preach about Jesus; he was called out of darkness into God’s light.

We sinners tend to be skeptical; the disciples in the early church did too. Did Paul *really* meet Jesus? Was he *actually* a believer? The disciples in Jerusalem, at the time of Paul’s conversion, were afraid. Paul wants to join these disciples, but they don't believe him. However, Barnabas is not going to stay silent. Barnabas greets Paul, brings him to the other disciples, and witnesses to what he knows happened. He teaches his fellow disciples (and apostles) the truth that Jesus does indeed change hearts and minds. He declares that Jesus did, in fact, call Paul to be an apostle.

You probably aren’t an apostle, but you are a disciple of Jesus. You get to continue learning from His Word, receiving His Gifts, and witnessing about what is true. In your Baptism, you are safely tucked into God’s family, and nothing can take that away. From that place, then, you can be bold to speak about Jesus. You can declare that He does forgive sins, He does keep His promises, and He is the Savior of the world. You can be like Barnabas - speak of what is true and real. Point to Jesus’ Death and Resurrection. Speak of yourself as a redeemed sinner. Speak to the neighbors you have been given - in your school, your home, your neighborhood, your community - and tell the Good News of Jesus for sinners. You get to be a disciple; you receive God’s good Gifts, and you get to then share His love with all that you meet.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

How clear is our vocation, Lord, When once we heed your call: To live according to Your Word And daily learn, refreshed, restored, That You are Lord of all, And will not let us fall. (LSB 853:1)

Deac. Sarah Longmire, Curricula Curator for Higher Things and Director of Family Life at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Lee's Summit, MO.

June 10, 2026

Today's Reading: John 13:1-20

Daily Lectionary: Proverbs 8:22-36; John 13:1-20

“Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.” (John 13:1)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Do you get anxious before a big event? Maybe you get really excited; all those butterflies of anticipation are fluttering in your stomach. You have a big test, a big game, a fancy dinner, or a presentation… something big is coming, and you know that it matters.

Sometimes, in our desire to focus, we forget about other people or other things. Washing the dishes? Later, I have a paper to finish. Walking the dog? Later, I have an important dinner to get ready for. We focus on our next big moment and nothing else.

In today’s reading, Jesus knows what is coming; His ‘big event’ is His crucifixion. This has been the plan of salvation since before the world was created, and now the time had come. And yet, who is His focus? Where does He spend His last hours before death? Jesus “loved them to the end.” Jesus, knowing all that is about to happen, stays focused on those whom He loves.

In John 13, Jesus washes the feet of the disciples. He shows, yet again, what it means to love sacrificially. He shows what it means to love and care for your neighbors. He continues to teach and to serve His disciples. He knows what His next hours are going to include, but He continues to love. He teaches the disciples that this is an example to them (and to us) - that we are to serve others.

Jesus says in John 13:20 that, ‘truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.’ You have received the one whom Jesus sends - you have been given the Holy Spirit! In your Baptism, you are made clean and declared holy; you are covered by Jesus and bear God’s name. You are one of Jesus’ own. On the cross, it was for you that Jesus willingly hung and willingly died. In the Resurrection, it is you that He brings into new life and unto life eternal. You are one for whom Jesus died. You are loved. And Jesus will indeed love you to the end.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

“Yes, Father, yes, most willingly I’ll bear what You command Me. My will conforms to Your decree, I’ll do what You have asked Me.” O wondrous Love, what have you done! The Father offers up His Son, Desiring our salvation. O Love, how strong You are to save! You lay the One into the grave Who built the earth’s foundation. (LSB 438:3)

Deac. Sarah Longmire, Curricula Curator for Higher Things and Director of Family Life at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Lee's Summit, MO.

June 9, 2026

Today's Reading: 1 John 4:16-21

Daily Lectionary: Proverbs 8:1-21; John 12:36b-50

“We love because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:19)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

I have to admit, I like to be first. In school, I liked it when I was done with my homework first, and I liked it when I ran a race and got first place. Even now, I like it when my favorite team gets first. I want to win. I want to be the best, and being first is definitely the best.

And yet, this short verse in 1 John says that someone else was first. This verse says that I can love, can know love, and can give love only because someone else did it first. This verse says that He loved me and He loved you. This verse is clear - I wasn’t the first to love.

When I stop and think about it, this verse tells me that being first isn’t really the point. When I admitted to liking to be first, to always winning, I was also admitting that my mindset is selfish. If I am winning, then everyone around me has to be losing. I’m not thinking about them; I am only thinking about me. Maybe I don’t know what love is, because that definitely isn’t love.

These verses in 1 John teach us about what love is - about who love is. It isn’t about winning, and it isn’t about me (or you) being the best. Instead, love is sacrificial. Love is reassuring and is hope without fear. There is no competition in love.

God is love. Love lays down His life so that others (sinners…you…me) can live. Love is given freely and is good. Love looks like something - it looks like Jesus on the cross. Love looks like an empty tomb. Love looks like God’s Word and water. Love is in, with, and under Bread and Wine. God’s plan to love is shown in the mercies and grace that are ours every day.

It’s a good thing that God loved us first. It’s a good thing that before we were born or could even think about what love is and how we might have it, God loved and planned for our rescue. Now, I can know and you can know that love is resting in God, in His promises, and in His work, not our own. Then, out of that love, comes love for our neighbors. We get to look around, not at ourselves, and see the needs of those around us. We get to rejoice in the love we have and then share it with others. God loved you first, and that is very good. And, now you get to love too.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Jesus loves me! This I know, For the Bible tells me so. Little ones to Him belong; They are weak, but He is strong. Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so. (LSB 588:1)

Deac. Sarah Longmire, Curricula Curator for Higher Things and Director of Family Life at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Lee's Summit, MO.