Category: Moments of Meditation

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.

December 18, 2025

Broadcast

                       The Great ``O'' Antiphons
                             Exodus 3:1-2
                              12/18/2025


        1    Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-
             law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his
             flock to the west side of the wilderness and came
             to Horeb, the mountain of God.
        2    And the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a
             flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He
             looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it
             was not consumed.  (ESV)

        The ``O'' Antiphon for December 18 comes both from the third
   and twentieth chapters of Exodus.

                  O Adonai and ruler of the house of Israel,
                  who appeared to Moses in the burning bush and
                  gave him the Law on | Sinai:*
                       Come with an outstretched arm and re- |
                       deem us.


        A theophany is an occurrence recorded in the Bible where God
   appeared to someone in the Old Testament.  Two of the great
   theophanies in Exodus were the call of Moses at the burning bush,
   and the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai.  These events defined
   the Exodus, commissioning the leader who would deliver the
   children of Israel from Egypt, and the giving of the Old
   Testament covenant of the Law.

        We understand each theophany as the pre-incarnate Son of
   God, the Word of God, speaking directly with the people.  Thus it
   was the Son of God who spoke from the burning bush, and the Son
   of God who thundered on the mountain while engraving the Ten
   Commandments on two tables of stone.

        Only the Son of God can redeem us from sin, death, and the
   power of the devil.  If He could be in the burning bush without
   consuming it, if He delivered the Law, He has the power to save.

        May our Lord grant that we hear Him and trust in His
   almighty deliverance.  Amen.

December 17, 2025

Broadcast

                       The Great ``O'' Antiphons
                          1 Corinthians 1:24
                              12/17/2026


        24   But to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks,
             Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
             (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 17 is drawn from the book of
   Proverbs.

                  O Wisdom, proceeding from the mouth of the
                  Most High, pervading and permeating all
                  creation, mightily ordering | all things:*
                       Come and teach us the way of | prudence.


        In the book of Proverbs, wisdom is more than an attribute of
   God.  It is the title used to identify the Son as distinct from
   the Father.  Wisdom is identified as one who existed before the
   world was created, and the One through whom all things were
   ordered.  Saint Paul alludes to this: ``But to those who are
   called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the
   wisdom of God.''[1]

        The Antiphon reflects the language of Proverbs, where Wisdom
   says: ``Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it.''[2]

        May our Lord grant us the wisdom to recognize the coming of
   Christ Jesus, our Lord.  Amen.
   ____________________

   1. 1 Corinthians 1:24 (ESV)

   2. Proverbs 8:33

December 16, 2025

Broadcast

                       Are You the One? - Part 2
                            Matthew 11:4-6
                              12/16/2025

        4    And Jesus answered them, ``Go and tell John what
             you hear and see:
        5    the blind receive their sight and the lame walk,
             lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the
             dead are raised up, and the poor have good news
             preached to them.
        6    And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.
             (ESV)

        John the Baptizer sent his disciples to ask Jesus, ``Are you
   the one who is to come or shall we look for another?''
        And Jesus answered them, ``Go and tell John what you
        hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the
        lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and
        the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news
        preached to them.  And blessed is the one who is not
        offended by me.


        Jesus pointed the disciples to the prophecies of the Old
   Testament, to the writing of Isaiah.[1] The objective proof that
   Jesus is the long-promised Redeemer is found in the inspired,
   inerrant Word of God.  Jesus fulfilled the prophecies of His
   first coming, even as He fulfilled His work of redemption by
   dying and rising again for our salvation.

        John the Baptizer told those who came to be baptized,
   ``Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.''[2] His message
   of repentance, his call to prepare for the coming of the Savior,
   resounds to this day.  Because of the death and resurrection of
   Jesus, your sins are forgiven.  This Christ, to whom Isaiah
   pointed, died and rose to pay the price of our transgressions.
   He is the one who is to come for our redemption.

        May our Lord grant that we hear the voice of John for our
   eternal blessing.  Amen.