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December 28, 2025

Broadcast

               The Saints of December -- Holy Innocents
                             Matthew 2:16
                              12/28/2025


        16   Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked
             by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and
             killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in
             all that region who were two years old or under,
             according to the time that he had ascertained from
             the wise men.  (ESV)

        Matthew tells of the visit of the Magi to see the infant
   Jesus.  Being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, the Magi
   left Bethlehem and avoided returning to Jerusalem.  ``Then Herod,
   when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became
   furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in
   Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under,
   according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise
   men.''

        These innocent boys were collateral damage in Satan's war
   against Jesus.  Not only do their deaths remind us of the
   terrible brutality of which human beings are capable, but also
   that Jesus, from the beginning of His life had to contend with
   persecution.

        The Feast of the Holy Innocents comes three days after our
   celebration of Christmas.  Again we are reminded of the cost of
   discipleship, that all people are affected by the birth of Christ
   Jesus.

        Why are the infant boys considered martyrs?  We certainly
   expect that the boys were circumcised on the eighth day, thus
   they were marked as God's children according to the law of Moses.
   They would not have been slaughtered if the Christ had not been
   born among them.  Their deaths on account of Christ point to the
   later martyrs who also bore His name.

        May our Lord give us the faith to be ready for the day He
   calls us to Himself, that we may give the good witness of our
   confidence in Jesus.  Amen.

December 27, 2025

Broadcast

                    The Saints of December -- John
                              John 21:24
                              12/27/2025


        24   This is the disciple who is bearing witness about
             these things, and who has written these things,
             and we know that his testimony is true.  (ESV)

        Saint John, the Evangelist, who we commemorate on December
   27, was the only apostle who was not martyred for his testimony
   concerning Jesus Christ.  As part of the inner circle of the
   disciples, John was present on the Mount of Transfiguration, as
   well as being one of the first disciples to see the empty tomb on
   Easter.

        Five books of the New Testament came from John's pen.
   Certainly we remember his Gospel, especially John 3:16.  John
   gave us the account of Jesus' first miracle at Cana in Galilee,
   where Jesus turned water into wine.  He also wrote three
   epistles, and Revelations.

        John was the only disciple to stand at the foot of the cross
   as Jesus died.  Jesus entrusted Mary to John's care during the
   crucifixion.  Tradition says that John took Mary to Ephesus where
   she later passed away.

        Emperor Domitian exiled John to the Island of Patmos off the
   coast of Asia Minor.  It was there John wrote of the things to
   come at the end of time.

        At the end of his Gospel, John wrote: ``This is the disciple
   who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written
   these things, and we know that his testimony is true.''  He wrote
   the Gospel ``so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ,
   the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His
   name.''[1]

        May our Lord grant us faith to proclaim Christ Jesus even in
   the midst of persecution and exile.  Amen.
   ____________________

   1. John 20:31

December 26, 2025

Broadcast

                   The Saints of December -- Stephen
                             Acts 7:59-60
                              12/26/2025


        59   And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out,
             ``Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.''
        60   And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud
             voice, ``Lord, do not hold this sin against
             them.'' And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
             (ESV)

        The first martyr of the Christian Church, Saint Stephen, was
   a deacon, a layman appointed by the apostles to take care of the
   secular aspects of the congregation.  We commemorate his death on
   December 26.  As a committed layman, Stephen read and studied the
   Scriptures.  He debated a number of Jewish converts from several
   synagogues in Jerusalem.

        Saint Luke, writing in Acts, said of Stephen: ``And Stephen,
   full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among
   the people.''[1] When those he was debating could not refute his
   arguments, they falsely accused him of teaching false doctrine
   and insurrection.  Stephen could have retracted his statements,
   but rather he stood up and accused the ruling council of the Jews
   of the murder of Jesus Christ.  The council members rose up as
   one, grabbed Stephen, and put him to death.

        Saint Luke recorded:
        And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, ``Lord
        Jesus, receive my spirit.''  And falling to his knees
        he cried out with a loud voice, ``Lord, do not hold
        this sin against them.'' And when he had said this, he
        fell asleep.


        Thus, Stephen stands as an example for all Christians.  He
   commended himself to Jesus in death, even as he served Jesus in
   life by serving other people.  He forgave those who killed him or
   consented to his death, including a pharisee named Saul from the
   city of Tarsus.

        May our Lord grant us a faith like Stephen, willing to serve
   God by serving our neighbor, willing to forgive those who sin
   against us.  Amen.
   ____________________

   1. Acts 6:8 (ESV)

December 25, 2025

Broadcast

                             Christmas Day
                              John 1:1-18
                              12/25/2025


        Last evening we heard the voice of the angels announcing the
   birth of our Savior.  Today we ponder this great and mighty
   wonder.

             In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was
        with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the
        beginning with God.  All things were made through him,
        and without him was not any thing made that was made.
        In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
        The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has
        not overcome it.

             There was a man sent from God, whose name was
        John.  He came as a witness, to bear witness about the
        light, that all might believe through him.  He was not
        the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

             The true light, which enlightens everyone, was
        coming into the world.  He was in the world, and the
        world was made through him, yet the world did not know
        him.  He came to his own, and his own people did not
        receive him.  But to all who did receive him, who
        believed in his name, he gave the right to become
        children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the
        will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

             And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and
        we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from
        the Father, full of grace and truth.  (John bore
        witness about him, and cried out, This was he of whom I
        said, He who comes after me ranks before me, because he
        was before me.)  And from his fullness we have all
        received, grace upon grace.  For the law was given
        through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus
        Christ.  No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is
        at the Father's side, he has made him known.  (ESV)


        From Trinity Lutheran Church to you and your families, may
   our Lord grant you a blessed Christmas.  Our Savior is born.
   Amen.

December 24, 2025

Broadcast

                             Christmas Eve
                           Luke 2:1-20 (KJV)
                              12/24/2025


        The waiting is over, this evening, let the celebration
   begin.

             And it came to pass in those days, that there went
        out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world
        should be taxde.  (And this taxing was first made when
        Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)  And all went to be
        taxed, every one into his own city.  And Joseph also
        went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into
        Judea, unto the city of David, which is called
        Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of
        David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being
        great with child.  And so it was, that, while they were
        there, the days were accomplished that she should be
        delivered.  And she brought forth her firstborn son,
        and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a
        manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

             And there were in the same country shepherds
        abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by
        night.  And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them,
        and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and
        they were sore afraid.  And the angel said unto them,
        ``Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of
        great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you
        is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which
        is Christ the Lord.  And this shall be a sign unto you;
        Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes,
        lying in a manger.''  And suddenly there was with the
        angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God,
        and saying, ``Glory to God in the highest, and on earth
        peace, good will toward men.''

             And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away
        from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to
        another, ``Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see
        this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath
        made known unto us.''  And they came with haste, and
        found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
        And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the
        saying which was told them concerning this child.  And
        all they that heard it wondered at those things which
        were told them by the shepherds.  But Mary kept all
        these things, and pondered them in her heart.  And the
        shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all
        the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told
        unto them.


        From Trinity Lutheran Church to you and your families, may
   our Lord grant you a blessed Christmas.  Our Savior is born. Amen.                                

December 23, 2025

Broadcast

                       The Great ``O'' Antiphons
                              Isaiah 7:14
                              12/23/2025


        14   Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign.
             Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
             and shall call his name Immanuel.  (ESV)

        We come at last to the final of the Great ``O'' Antiphons.
   The Church, since the beginning of Advent, has been preparing for
   the day when her Savior appears.  During the past week, as the
   mood of the Advent season intensified, we prayed with the whole
   church that Jesus would come and redeem His people.

        The final ``O'' Antiphon forms the basis of the first verse
   of the Advent hymn, ``O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.''  It's text is
   from Isaiah: ``Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign.
   Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call
   his name Immanuel.''

                  O Emmanuel, our king and our Lord, the
                  anointed for the nations and their | Savior:*
                       Come and save us, O | Lord our God.


        Emmanuel means ``God with us.''  Tomorrow He comes, and we
   shall see the incarnate Son of God reposing in a manger.  He once
   came to give His life for you and me.  He comes now in Word and
   Sacrament to give us hope.  He will come again to raise us from
   our graves, giving us life everlasting with Him.

        Please join us at Trinity on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
   to hear of our Lord's birth.  May He continue to bless you
   always.  Amen.

December 22, 2025

Broadcast

                       The Great ``O'' Antiphons
                              Haggai 2:7
                              12/22/2025


        7    And I will shake all nations, so that the
             treasures of all nations shall come in, and I will
             fill this house with glory, says the LORD of
             hosts.  (ESV)

        The great ``O'' Antiphon for the twenty-second of December
   comes from the prophet Haggai.
        And I [the LORD] will shake all nations, so that the
        treasures of all nations shall come in, and I will fill
        this house with glory, says the LORD of hosts.


                  O King of the nations, the ruler they long
                  for, the cornerstone uniting all | people:*
                       Come and save us all, whom You formed |
                       out of clay.


        The emphasis on the kingship of Christ Jesus continues as
   His rule unites ``all nations.''  Often in the Bible we hear
   Jesus refereed to as the King, most certainly in the prophecy
   fulfilled when He rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.  During the
   Advent season, where many choirs and orchestras present
   ``Messiah'' by George Fredrick Handel, we hear the phrase from
   Revelation, ``King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.''[1] We thrill to
   the music as the chorus proclaims, ``And He shall reign forever
   and ever,''[2]

        Thus we pray the the cornerstone the builders rejected, as
   David called the Christ in Psalm 118, come and redeem His
   creation.

        May our Lord bless you richly as you hear that Christ Jesus
   is indeed our King, who died to redeem His people from sin and
   death, who rose again to reign forever.  Amen.

   ____________________

   1. Revelation 19:16

   2. Revelation 11:15

December 21, 2025

Broadcast

                       The Great ``O'' Antiphons
                             Luke 1:78-79
                              12/21/2025


        78   Because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby
             the sunrise shall visit us from on high
        79   to give light to those who sit in darkness and in
             the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the
             way of peace.  (ESV)

        The great ``O'' Antiphon for the twenty-first of December
   comes from the Song of Zechariah, found in the first chapter of
   Luke:
        Because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the
        sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to
        those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
        to guide our feet into the way of peace.


                  O Dayspring, splendor of light ever- |
                  lasting:*
                       Come and enlighten those in darkness and
                       in the shad- | ow of death.


        This antiphon, which reflects also the prophet Isaiah, ``The
   people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who
   dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined,''[1]
   applies to Jesus' second coming.  The wording of the antiphon
   reflects the older King James translation which uses the term
   ``Dayspring'' in place of ``sunrise'' in the Benedictus.  This
   specialized Messianic title says that the rising of the morning
   light overcomes the darkness of night.

        We pray, therefore, that Jesus, the Light that no darkness
   can overcome, return quickly to redeem this world from the gloom
   of sin and death.

        May our Lord grant us the light of faith which holds firmly
   to God's rich promises of grace and mercy.  Amen.
   ____________________

   1. Isaiah 9:2 (ESV)

December 20, 2025

Broadcast

                       The Great ``O'' Antiphons
                             Isaiah 22:22
                              12/20/2025


        22   And I will place on his shoulder the key of the
             house of David. He shall open, and none shall
             shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.
             (ESV)

        The great ``O'' Antiphon for the twentieth of December comes
   from Isaiah, the twenty-second chapter.  ``And I will place on
   his shoulder the key of the house of David. He shall open, and
   none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.''  Saint
   John also uses this title in Revelations: ``And to the angel of
   the church in Philadelphia write: `The words of the holy one, the
   true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will
   shut, who shuts and no one opens.'''[1]

                  O Key of David and scepter of the house of
                  Israel, You open and no one can close, You
                  close and no one can | open:*
                       Come and rescue the prisoners who are in
                       darkness and the shad- | ow of death.


        Saint Paul, when he wrote his letter to the Ephesians, was
   in prison.  Full well he knew the restraints, the darkness, and
   the despair of being held against his will.  Therefore, he could
   easily foresee the day when Christ Jesus would return to lead the
   prisoners from the depths of the dungeon into the light of day.
   ``Therefore it says, `When he ascended on high he led a host of
   captives, and he gave gifts to men.'''[2]

        May our Lord grant us hope, knowing we soon will be
   delivered from the chains of our sin.  Amen.
   ____________________

   1. Revelation 3:7 (ESV)

   2. Ephesians 4:8 (ESV)

December 19, 2025

Broadcast

                       The Great ``O'' Antiphons
                             Isaiah 11:10
                              12/19/2026


        10   In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as
             a signal for the peoples -- of him shall the
             nations inquire, and his resting place shall be
             glorious.  (ESV)

        The Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55) is assigned as the canticle
   for the daily office service of Vespers.  When it is sung it is
   preceded and followed by an antiphon, a single verse that
   connects the canticle to the holy day being observed.  During the
   seven days before Christmas Eve the antiphons begin with the word
   ``O'' followed by a form of address to Christ.  Each antiphon is
   a prayer to the Son of God imploring Him to come as our judge and
   redeemer on the last day.

        The Antiphon for December 19 is drawn from Isaiah: ``In that
   day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the
   peoples -- of him shall the nations inquire, and his resting
   place shall be glorious.''

                  O Root of Jesse, standing as an ensign before
                  the peoples, before whom all kings are mute,
                  to whom the nations will do | homage:*
                       Come quickly to de- | liver us.


        One of the themes of Advent is that of Christ Jesus coming
   again with the blast of a trumpet to judge the living and the
   dead.  This Antiphon confesses that, although Christ Jesus won
   the victory over sin and the grave, that victory will be given to
   us only when He returns on the last day.

        May our Lord grant us the strength of faith to wait for Him.
   Amen.