Produced by Lutherans for Life, Life Thoughts in the Church Year are designed to help pastors and congregations see the church year through the lens of the sanctity of human life. Life Thoughts are based on the appointed readings from Lutheran Service Book using the Three-Year Lectionary.
January 3 – Christmas II – Adoption’s not an afterthought for our Almighty God. It delights Him to bring every human life into His family this way (Ephesians 1:5). He even arranged for a human husband to adopt His only-begotten Son (Luke 2:48). This relationship captures the very heart of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. His grace has taught us how no child ever goes entirely unwanted. The same heavenly joy awaits all those who open their homes to little ones in need.
January 10 – Epiphany I/Baptism of Our Lord – Even in a formless, dark, and empty early universe, God made Himself present and powerful (Genesis 1:2). Surprise pregnancies sometimes seem just so uncertain. Terminal diagnoses can feel that desperate. But this Lord buried Himself in our graveyard (Romans 6:4). This Savior sowed life in death’s shadowy valleys. We need not let abortion or assisted suicide root us there as residents. The Heavenly Father always comes close and brings His own new creation to blossom.
January 17 – Epiphany II – “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” (John 1:46). Can anything good come from surprise pregnancy? Can anything good come from chronic illness? Jesus is both promise and proof of the wonders that come from just such contexts. Miracles come from Nazareth. Forgiveness comes from Calvary. Almighty God put them there. And He also created, redeemed, and called both worth and purpose into every human body (1 Corinthians 6:19), no matter what size, skills, or circumstances.
January 24 – Epiphany III – Love doesn’t just “live and let live.” God has put love and power together (Psalm 62:11-12). Love won’t settle for “personal choice” or “public opinion” or “political controversy.” Remaining silent about sins like abortion and assisted suicide may avoid one kind of offense. But it perpetrates a greater one by refraining from showing love. Real compassion acts with courage. It means words of warning as much as words of winning over.
January 31 – Epiphany IV – Anxieties concerning climate change and overpopulation justify abortion for some folks. But for Christians, people matter more than food (1 Corinthians 8:13). And fears about famine turn out unfounded when the God who sends mouths also sends meat (Psalm 111:5). If a picture is worth a thousand words, isn’t a brother or sister worth more than a million hamburgers?
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