Category: Moments of Meditation

October 10, 2025

Broadcast

                        Things to Come - Part 5
                             Luke 7:16-17
                              10/10/2025

        16   Fear seized them all, and they glorified God,
             saying, ``A great prophet has arisen among us!''
             and ``God has visited his people!''
        17   And this report about him spread through the whole
             of Judea and all the surrounding country.  (ESV)

        Jesus disrupted the funeral of a young man in the city of
   Nain in Galilee.  He stopped the funeral procession, touched the
   pallet upon which the young man was lying, and commanded the dead
   man to rise.  Our Lord then presented the young man to his
   mother, a widow.

        How did the crowds react?  How would you react if you
   witnessed such a miracle?  Would you say, ``That is
   interesting,'' turn around and forget what you saw?  Of course
   not.

        Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying,
        ``A great prophet has arisen among us!'' and ``God has
        visited his people!''  And this report about him spread
        through the whole of Judea and all the surrounding
        country.


        Jesus has overcome death and the grave through His suffering
   on the cross, through His glorious resurrection.  His sacrifice
   was to pay the price of our sins.  For His sake, we are declared
   holy and righteous in God's sight, free from the condemnation for
   our transgressions.

        Like the witnesses of the young man's return to life, we
   cheerfully and loudly proclaim God's rich grace, love, and mercy.
   Please join us each Sunday morning at Trinity Lutheran Church as
   we proclaim the good news of salvation from sin and death for the
   sake of Christ Jesus.

        May our Lord give you peace, the truth that Jesus paid the
   price for your sins and that for His sake you are promised
   eternal life.  Amen.

October 9, 2025

Broadcast

                        Things to Come - Part 4
                             Luke 7:14-15
                              10/09/2025

        14   Then he came up and touched the bier, and the
             bearers stood still.  And he said, ``Young man, I
             say to you, arise.''
        15   And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and
             Jesus gave him to his mother.  (ESV)

        Jesus, while entering the city of Nain in Galilee, disrupted
   a funeral procession.  The young man who had died was the only
   son of a widow.  A great crowd of people from the city walked
   with her from the town to the cemetery.

        As Jesus entered the city, He stopped the procession and
   said to the widow, ``Do not weep.''
        Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers
        stood still.  And he said, ``Young man, I say to you,
        arise.''  And the dead man sat up and began to speak,
        and Jesus gave him to his mother.


        Jesus hates death.  He raised this young man and returned
   him to his mother.  Just as He raised this man, just as He raised
   the daughter of Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, just as He
   raised Lazarus, He has promised to raise each of us from the
   dead.

        This miracle is a foretaste of the miracle promised on the
   day Jesus returns to judge the living and the dead.  Although we
   do not yet see the resurrection, we look at this young man of
   Nain and see ourselves reflected in His new life.  We see the
   tears of mourning replaced with tears of laughter and shouts of
   joy.

        The victory is ours, but we await the day when we can
   celebrate that victory.  Christ Jesus will soon enter our towns
   to raise our friends, family, and neighbors who are now resting
   from their labors.  Meanwhile, we have hope, for God's promises
   are certain.

        May our Lord grant us faith to trust in Him, to hold firmly
   to the forgiveness of our sins which leads to everlasting life.
   Amen.

October 8, 2025

Broadcast

                        Things to Come - Part 3
                               Luke 7:13
                              10/08/2025

        13   And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on
             her and said to her, ``Do not weep.''  (ESV)

        Jesus, while entering the city of Nain in Galilee, met a
   funeral procession which was carrying a young man for burial.
   This man was the only son of his mother, and she was a widow.

        We can imagine the procession, the large crowd from the
   city, the mourners crying and lamenting, the widow dumbfounded
   and overwhelmed with the grief of losing both her husband and
   son.  The separation of death causes pain no matter the
   circumstances.

        ``And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and
   said to her, `Do not weep.'''  Often we hear the trite promises
   and assurances, ``do not weep for everything will work out.''
   Yet we have nothing concrete to offer the bereaved except empty
   phrases meant to console.

        When Jesus says, ``Do not weep,'' He gives reason for hope.
   Our Lord Jesus Christ took upon Himself our sin and the guilt of
   our transgression.  When He assures us that God is in control,
   that we have the hope and promise of eternal life, those words
   are filled with the truth.

        Jesus said, ``Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be
   comforted.''[1] Saint Paul wrote: ``But we do not want you to be
   uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may
   not grieve as others do who have no hope.''[2] We weep, we mourn,
   but do so knowing that our Lord has given His life for the
   redemption of those we love.

        May our Lord grant us hope even in times of distress for the
   sake of His Son.  Amen.














   ____________________

   1. Matthew 5:4

   2. 1 Thessalonians 4:13 (ESV)

October 7, 2025

Broadcast

                        Things to Come - Part 2
                             Luke 7:11-12
                              10/07/2025

        11   Soon afterward he went to a town called Nain, and
             his disciples and a great crowd went with him.
        12   As he drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a
             man who had died was being carried out, the only
             son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a
             considerable crowd from the town was with her.
             (ESV)

        Soon afterward [Jesus] went to a town called Nain, and
        his disciples and a great crowd went with him.  As he
        drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who
        had died was being carried out, the only son of his
        mother, and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd
        from the town was with her.


        Saint Paul wrote: ``For the wages of sin is death, but the
   free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.''[1]
   Herein lies the problem, we have all sinned and fallen short of
   the glory of God.  No one, except Christ Jesus, has lived a
   perfect life, never breaking the least of God's commandments or
   laws.  We are conceived with sin, born with sin, live with sin,
   and die because we sin.

        There are three kinds of death, each overcome by the death
   and resurrection of Jesus.  The first is temporal death, where
   this sinful and corrupt body rests awaiting the resurrection on
   the day of judgment.  All people are subject to temporal death
   because this sinful body cannot live forever.  The second is
   spiritual death, where we reject God's tender grace, love, and
   mercy.  Christ Jesus overcomes this death through the
   proclamation of the Gospel, both what we hear and what we see
   through the sacraments.  The third is eternal death, eternal
   separation from God.  Those who have rejected the Gospel of
   salvation by grace through faith for the sake of Christ while
   living, suffer this separation after they die.  They wanted
   nothing to do with God, and God gives them what they desire.

        May our Lord grant that we have faith in Jesus who has
   overcome death and the grave, giving us life everlasting.  Amen.
   ____________________

   1. Romans 6:23 (ESV)

October 6, 2025

Broadcast

                        Things to Come - Part 1
                             Luke 7:11-12
                              10/06/2025

        11   Soon afterward he went to a town called Nain, and
             his disciples and a great crowd went with him.
        12   As he drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a
             man who had died was being carried out, the only
             son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a
             considerable crowd from the town was with her.
             (ESV)

        Christians live in the tension of knowing we have eternal
   life for the sake of the suffering, death, and resurrection of
   Jesus, yet we are still dealing with the effects of sin each day.
   The victory over death and the grave has been won, but the
   celebration is in the future.  ``Now but not yet'' is often the
   watch-word.

        This week we will be looking at the miracle when Jesus
   restored the life of the young man of Nain.  We will look at the
   three types of death, and how Christ Jesus has overcome them all.

        Soon afterward [Jesus] went to a town called Nain, and
        his disciples and a great crowd went with him.  As he
        drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who
        had died was being carried out, the only son of his
        mother, and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd
        from the town was with her.


        So begins the account of this miracle where Jesus and His
   followers confront those who mourn the death of this man.  This
   miracle is a foretaste of the day when Jesus will come again to
   call each person from the grave.

        May our Lord give us comfort and hope in times of trouble,
   that we trust in the victory Christ Jesus won over sin and death.
   Amen.

October 3, 2025

Broadcast

                          Seek First - Part 5
                             Matthew 6:33
                              10/03/2025

        33   But seek first the kingdom of God and his
             righteousness, and all these things will be added
             to you.  (ESV)

        Jesus told His followers: ``Therefore I tell you, do not be
   anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will
   drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life
   more than food, and the body more than clothing?''

        Our Lord pointed us to the love of God the Father who cares
   for the least of creation, who gives food and shelter to those
   things He created simply by speaking.  If He cares for the least
   of creation, He cares for the crown jewel of His creation, the
   people He formed in His own image.

        Even though we sinned and rebelled against God, He sent His
   Son to reconcile us to Himself, to redeem us at the cost of
   Jesus' life.  Through Jesus' resurrection, we are assured of
   everlasting life.

        It is not because of God's law, ``You shall have no other
   gods before Me,'' but because of His grace, love, and mercy that
   we desire to fear, love, and trust in Him above all things.  It
   is not the commandment that forces us to desire to come into His
   presence, but the truth that He is our loving Father.  Jesus
   summarized this lesson: ``But seek first the kingdom of God and
   his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.''

        Our heavenly Father invites you to receive the gift of His
   grace as He gathers us together each week.  Join us at Trinity
   Lutheran Church at 9:00 a.m. each Sunday to learn more about the
   love of the Father for your eternal blessing.

        May our Lord grant us the peace of knowing that the One who
   sent His Son to redeem us from sin gives us His temporal and
   eternal blessings.  Amen.

October 2, 2025

Broadcast

                          Seek First - Part 4
                            Matthew 6:31-32
                              10/02/2025

        31   Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ``What shall
             we eat?'' or ``What shall we drink?''  or ``What
             shall we wear?''
        32   For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and
             your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.
             (ESV)

        Jesus told His followers: ``Therefore I tell you, do not be
   anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will
   drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life
   more than food, and the body more than clothing?''  He spoke of
   God's provision for creation, how the birds are fed, how the
   fields are filled with beautiful flowers.  In making this
   argument from the lesser to the greater, Jesus draws the
   conclusion:
        Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ``What shall we
        eat?'' or ``What shall we drink?''  or ``What shall we
        wear?''  For the Gentiles seek after all these things,
        and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.


        Saint Paul reminds us of a greater reason not to be anxious
   about the things of this world.  ``He who did not spare his own
   Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him
   graciously give us all things?''[1] Our heavenly Father sent His
   Son to take upon Himself our transgressions, our willful sins.
   He who created sacrificed His most treasured and beloved Son so
   that we can have eternal life with Him.  Clothing, food, and
   shelter are insignificant compared to the price paid by God to
   redeem us from sin, death, and the power of the devil.

        May our Lord grant us faith to trust in His love, not only
   for our daily bread, but for our eternal life, for the sake of
   Christ Jesus.  Amen.
   ____________________

   1. Romans 8:32 (ESV)

October 1, 2025

Broadcast

                          Seek First - Part 3
                             Matthew 6:25
                              10/01/2025

        25   Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your
             life, what you will eat or what you will drink,
             nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not
             life more than food, and the body more than
             clothing?  (ESV)

        Jesus told His followers: ``Therefore I tell you, do not be
   anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will
   drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life
   more than food, and the body more than clothing?''  He then spoke
   of nature, of how God feeds the birds, how God gives beauty to
   wild flowers.

        Christians who trust God's Word as being true and accurate
   are at an advantage when considering that which we need to
   sustain our body and life.  We believe, teach, and confess that
   in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth, that He
   made everything for a purpose.  All things, save humanity, were
   brought forth by the power of His word alone.  Adam, however, He
   sculpted from the dust of the ground, and breathed into the lump
   of clay to give life and a soul.

        Jesus argued from the least to the greatest.  If our
   heavenly Father provides for those things created by His word,
   will He not care more for the pinnacle of His creation?  The
   finely tuned ecosystem serves for the good of all creation,
   providing food and shelter for each living thing.

        Time and again we see how God provides that which we need.
   He truly answers our prayer, ``Give us this day our daily bread''
   as He works through farmers and distribution systems so to
   deliver food to all creation.  He uses your hands and mine to
   produce and share so that everyone may live.

        May our Lord grant us faith to see His blessings even as we
   see the harvest, so that we give thanks to Him for all things.
   Amen.

September 30, 2025

Broadcast

                          Seek First - Part 2
                             Matthew 6:25
                              09/30/2025

        25   Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your
             life, what you will eat or what you will drink,
             nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not
             life more than food, and the body more than
             clothing?  (ESV)

        Jesus told His disciples that they could not serve both God
   and money.  Each person must set priorities to determine how to
   use their resources of time, talents, and treasures.  We either
   consider God as most important, or we consider something created
   as most important.

        In 1943, Abraham Maslow, an American psychologist, discussed
   a hierarchy of needs as the way of understanding human
   motivation.  The concept is simple in practice.  You can't be
   worried about self-actualization and creativity when you are
   unable to breathe.  If your basic survival needs are not met, if
   you don't have air and food and shelter nothing else really
   matters.

        We spend our time looking for those things we need to
   support this life.  Often we will obsess over that which we do
   not have, that which seems necessary to support this life.  We
   work harder, we scheme, we plot, we do all we can to obtain that
   thing which is missing.

        Jesus spoke of this truth.  ``Therefore I tell you, do not
   be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will
   drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life
   more than food, and the body more than clothing?''

        Unlike many people who give such advise, Jesus gives us a
   reason why we should not be anxious, why we should not worry
   about the basic needs of food, shelter, and clothing.  As we will
   see, He brings us back to God's creating power, God's love, and
   faith.

        May our Lord open our eyes to see His rich blessings, and
   our hearts to trust fully in Him.  Amen.

September 29, 2025

Broadcast

                          Seek First - Part 1
                             Matthew 6:24
                              09/29/2025

        24   No one can serve two masters, for either he will
             hate the one and love the other, or he will be
             devoted to the one and despise the other. You
             cannot serve God and money.  (ESV)

        Sometimes we miss the most obvious truth because the truth
   is so fundamental.  What is most important to you?  As we answer
   that question, we tend to think of family or recognition or other
   things which bring happiness and contentment.  On the other hand,
   we forget that if you can't breathe, family and recognition and
   the win / loss record of your favorite football team are
   meaningless.

        This week's Gospel lesson asks us to set priorities, asks us
   to determine where we invest our resources.  As we ponder the
   words Jesus spoke as recorded by Matthew, we do so remembering
   that God gave us His law out of love.

        Jesus said:
        No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate
        the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to
        the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and
        money.


        This is a practical application of the First Commandment,
   ``You shall have no other gods before me.''  Why should we fear,
   love, and trust in God above all things?  How does trusting in
   Him bring us joy?  Isn't God demanding, doesn't His law restrict
   us from doing things which otherwise we would enjoy?

        This week we will examine Jesus' teaching to learn that His
   Word is not only true, but the best advice we can receive to live
   in harmony with God and neighbor.

        May our Lord grant us faith to hear and trust in His holy
   Word.  Amen.