Category: Moments of Meditation

March 3, 2025

Recording

                      Lent: Seeing Jesus - Part 1
                             Luke 18:31-34
                              03/03/2025


        31   And taking the twelve, he said to them, ``See, we
             are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is
             written about the Son of Man by the prophets will
             be accomplished.
        32   For he will be delivered over to the Gentiles and
             will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit
             upon.
        33   And after flogging him, they will kill him, and on
             the third day he will rise.''
        34   But they understood none of these things. This
             saying was hidden from them, and they did not
             grasp what was said.  (ESV)

        This week, Wednesday, begins the season of Lent in the
   Christian Church.  For forty days, plus Sundays, we shall ponder
   our sin which Jesus was willing to take upon Himself.  He, the
   sinless Son of God, for our salvation from eternal death, to
   reconcile us to God the Father, perfectly fulfilled the Law on
   our behalf, then suffered to pay the price we should pay.

        And taking the twelve, he said to them, ``See, we are
        going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written
        about the Son of Man by the prophets will be
        accomplished.  For he will be delivered over to the
        Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and
        spit upon.  And after flogging him, they will kill him,
        and on the third day he will rise.''  But they
        understood none of these things. This saying was hidden
        from them, and they did not grasp what was said.


        Although the death of Jesus took the disciples by surprise,
   and His resurrection confounded the religious leaders of the day,
   nothing Jesus accomplished should be unexpected.  That which was
   written by the prophets from the time of Moses, that which Jesus
   told His disciples, stood as a clear witness of God's plan to
   redeem sinners.

        This week we will look at our Lord's words, and the
   disciples' reaction, as we prepare to ponder Jesus' crucifixion.

        May our Lord grant us eyes to see His love, and ears to hear
   of His mercy.  Amen.

February 28, 2025

Broadcast

                         Sowing Seed - Part 5
                              Luke 8:8,15
                              02/28/2025


        8    ``And some fell into good soil and grew and
             yielded a hundredfold.'' As he said these things,
             he called out, ``He who has ears to hear, let him
             hear.'' ...
        15   As for that in the good soil, they are those who,
             hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and
             good heart, and bear fruit with patience.  (ESV)

        This week we are looking at the Parable of the Sower.  God
   causes the seed of His Word to be cast in bad soil and good.  We
   have seen how the devil, the world, and our own sinful flesh
   conspire to keep the Word from growing into faith.

        ``And some fell into good soil and grew and yielded a
        hundredfold.'' As he said these things, he called out,
        ``He who has ears to hear, let him hear.'' ...  As for
        that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the
        word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and
        bear fruit with patience.


        The Church does not exist to be a moral police force.  The
   Church exists to proclaim God's rich love, that the Father sent
   His Son into the world to pay the price of our sin, to die and
   rise again that we may have eternal life with Him.  The Church is
   the refuge for the weary sinner, the place where God promises to
   be found, the place where He promises us the hope which comes
   from the forgiveness of our sins.

        Each week, at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday, at Trinity Lutheran
   Church, the good seed of God's Word is sown in faith.  We
   believe, teach, and confess that the Word of God has the power to
   transform our lives, to give us hope, to set our eyes on God's
   mercy.  As we look first to our loving, heavenly Father, as we
   are embraced by His Son, as the Holy Spirit creates and sustains
   our faith, we have hope in a hopeless world.

        For the sake of Christ Jesus, you have the promise of life
   everlasting.  Please join us each Sunday morning to hear this
   message of God's love.  May our Lord grant you the peace of
   knowing your sins are forgiven.  Amen.

February 27, 2025

Broadcast

                         Sowing Seed - Part 4
                              Luke 8:7,14
                              02/27/2025


        7    And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up
             with it and choked it.
        14   And as for what fell among the thorns, they are
             those who hear, but as they go on their way they
             are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures
             of life, and their fruit does not mature.  (ESV)

        This week we are looking at the Parable of the Sower.
        ``And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up
        with it and choked it. ...  And as for what fell among
        the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on
        their way they are choked by the cares and riches and
        pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature.''


        In 1974, Harry Chapin wrote a song about the problems of a
   father making time for his son.[1] Everything else took priority,
   work, and money were more important than being present for the
   son's first steps, or learning to throw a ball, or all the other
   things which bring the joy of raising a child.  Our relationship
   with God is no different.  The quest for fame and fortune, the
   struggle to make ends meet, to stretch the paycheck to cover the
   bills, become more important than taking time to hear of the
   Father's love for His children.

        The devil, our sinful flesh, and the joys or problems of
   this world all conspire to take our eyes off of Christ Jesus.
   The promise, ``I will get to it later,'' never is fulfilled.  Our
   priority should not be the things of this world, but the
   blessings of God, our relationship with Him, our relationship
   with the people He has placed around us.

        May our Lord grant us faith which seeks first the kingdom of
   God, which seeks the good of our neighbor, and which ignores the
   allure of the transient things of this world.  Amen.
   ____________________

   1. Cats in the Cradle

February 26, 2025

Broadcast

                         Sowing Seed - Part 3
                              Luke 8:6,13
                              02/26/2025


        6    ``And some fell on the rock, and as it grew up, it
             withered away, because it had no moisture.
        13   And the ones on the rock are those who, when they
             hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have
             no root; they believe for a while, and in time of
             testing fall away.''  (ESV)

        This week we are looking at the Parable of the Sower.
        ``And some fell on the rock, and as it grew up, it
        withered away, because it had no moisture. ...  And the
        ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the
        word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they
        believe for a while, and in time of testing fall
        away.''


        Our own desires also get in the way of the Word of God.
   Often people begin to come to faith looking for the benefits and
   supposed blessings which come from loving God.  They look for the
   final victory over sin and death, not when Jesus comes again to
   judge the living and the dead, but today.  They don't realize
   that the victory is won, but the celebration and the blessings of
   that victory are still in the future.

        When the normal problems of life happen, these self-serving
   Christians get angry at God for not protecting them from all harm
   and danger.  Didn't King David write, ``Even though I walk
   through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil,
   for you are with me, your rod and your staff they comfort
   me.''[1]

        Our hope in this life comes from knowing that Jesus Christ
   overcame sin, death, and the power of the devil.  He walked the
   road before us, He is with us always through the Word and
   Sacraments.  He promises us the joys of heaven, eternal life
   because He paid the price of our rebellious sin.

        May our Lord grant us faith which holds to His promises,
   trusting in Him even during the difficulties we face each day.
   Amen.
   ____________________

   1. Psalm 23:4 (ESV)

February 25, 2025

Broadcast

                         Sowing Seed - Part 2
                            Luke 8:5,11-12
                              02/25/2025


        5    ``A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he
             sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled
             underfoot, and the birds of the air devoured it.
        11   ``Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of
             God.
        12   The ones along the path are those who have heard.
             Then the devil comes and takes away the word from
             their hearts, so that they may not believe and be
             saved.''  (ESV)

        Why do people, who can see that each of us has sinned
   against God and neighbor, reject the good news that for the sake
   of Christ Jesus our sins are forgiven?  Why do people reject
   God's rich grace, love, and mercy?  The Parable of the Sower
   shows us that the devil, the world, and our own sinful flesh
   conspire to pull us from our Savior's compassion.

        ``A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed,
        some fell along the path and was trampled underfoot,
        and the birds of the air devoured it.''


        The disciples were unclear about the message of the parable.
   Jesus explained:
        ``Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
        The ones along the path are those who have heard. Then
        the devil comes and takes away the word from their
        hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.''


        The lies told by the devil seem reasonable.  On the surface,
   we really can agree.  For example, one lie says ``You don't need
   God in your life.''  This seems true, until the moment you are
   confronted with your mortality, or with personal disaster.  All
   of a sudden, the focus on yourself, on the goodies of life, is
   inadequate.  The same lie, in different terms, ``You don't need
   to wear your seat belts while driving.''  Yet the instant you
   need seat belts, you are glad you followed the safety advice.
   After all, you don't know when you will have an accident, so you
   are prepared.  By going to Church, by seeking first the Kingdom
   of God, by taking your eyes off of yourself, you are better
   prepared for the problems of life.

        May our Lord grant that we ignore the lies of the devil,
   that we may look to Jesus Christ for our salvation.  Amen.

February 24, 2025

Broadcast

                         Sowing Seed - Part 1
                              Luke 8:4-8
                              02/24/2025


        4    And when a great crowd was gathering and people
             from town after town came to him, he said in a
             parable:
        5    ``A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he
             sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled
             underfoot, and the birds of the air devoured it.
        6    And some fell on the rock, and as it grew up, it
             withered away, because it had no moisture.
        7    And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up
             with it and choked it.
        8    And some fell into good soil and grew and yielded
             a hundredfold.'' As he said these things, he
             called out, ``He who has ears to hear, let him
             hear.''  (ESV)

        We believe, teach, and confess that our redemption from sin
   and eternal death is a gift from God, not something which we
   earn.  In the Parable of the Sower we see that God causes His
   Word to be spread to all people.  The Word may fall on
   unproductive soil, the Word may grow and bear fruit.

        This week we will look at the effect of the unholy three,
   the devil, the world, and our own sinful flesh, as we study this
   parable.

        And when a great crowd was gathering and people from
        town after town came to him, he said in a parable: ``A
        sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some
        fell along the path and was trampled underfoot, and the
        birds of the air devoured it.  And some fell on the
        rock, and as it grew up, it withered away, because it
        had no moisture.  And some fell among thorns, and the
        thorns grew up with it and choked it.  And some fell
        into good soil and grew and yielded a hundredfold.'' As
        he said these things, he called out, ``He who has ears
        to hear, let him hear.''


        May our Lord grant that we receive His Word with open ears,
   and that we do not reject His grace, love, and mercy.  Amen.

February 21, 2025

Broadcast

                          Hired Help - Part 5
                           Matthew 20:15-16
                              02/21/2025


        15   ``Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what
             belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?''
        16   So the last will be first, and the first last.
             (ESV)

        Saint Matthew recorded Jesus' words: ``For the kingdom of
   heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the
   morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.''  God's ways are not
   our ways.  We compare ourselves to others, not content to accept
   the gracious gifts given to us by God.

        The kingdom of heaven is the kingdom of grace, where God the
   Father sent His only-begotten Son to redeem and deliver us from
   the power of the devil, to give us the gift of the forgiveness of
   sins which leads to everlasting life.  The Holy Spirit calls us
   to faith in Christ Jesus through the proclaimed Word and the
   sacraments which were given to the Church by Jesus.

        As you and I compare ourselves to others, we demand that God
   act according to our rules.  Yet He told those who grumbled,
   ```Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me?
   Or do you begrudge my generosity?'  So the last will be first,
   and the first last.''

        We give thanks and praise to God that He treats us with
   grace and mercy, not according to our works.  He desires that all
   people be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.

        Come into the vineyard of God's Church to hear of His love,
   grace, and mercy.  Each Sunday morning we gather at Trinity
   Lutheran Church to learn more of this gift which we do not earn,
   but which we receive at God's invitation.

        May our Lord grant that we hear His call to enter the
   vineyard, to be found as one who trusts only in Jesus Christ for
   redemption from sin and death.  Amen.

February 20, 2025

Broadcast

                          Hired Help - Part 4
                           Matthew 20:11-14
                              02/20/2025


        11   And on receiving [the denarius] they grumbled at
             the master of the house,
        12   saying, ``These last worked only one hour, and you
             have made them equal to us who have borne the
             burden of the day and the scorching heat.''
        13   But he replied to one of them, ``Friend, I am
             doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for
             a denarius?
        14   Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give
             to this last worker as I give to you.''  (ESV)

        The workday is over.  The master of the house instructed his
   steward to pay those who were laboring in the vineyard.  To the
   ones who worked an hour, the steward gave a full day's pay.  To
   the ones who worked from dawn, the steward gave a full day's pay.

        And on receiving [the denarius] they grumbled at the
        master of the house, saying, ``These last worked only
        one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have
        borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.''
        But he replied to one of them, ``Friend, I am doing you
        no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius?
        Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to
        this last worker as I give to you.''


        Even in the vineyard, the Church, there are people who take
   their eyes off of the Master to compare themselves with others.
   ``Why is he getting better treatment?''  We become jealous.  ``I
   do more than he does.''  We become proud.

        God the Father sent His Son into the world to redeem each
   sinner as an individual.  You and I are different, having been
   called to different vocations, having been called into God's
   vineyard at different times.  You and I are treated as
   individuals by God, not as another face in the crowd.  The Father
   loved you enough to send His Son to redeem you from sin and
   death.

        As we look at the Father, as we look at Jesus Christ, we see
   God's love in action.  That you received the same gift of grace
   that I received reflects on God's mercy, not our twisted sense of
   right and wrong.

        May our Lord grant us faith to accept with thanksgiving and
   praise the gift of life given to us for the sake of Jesus Christ.
   Amen.

February 19, 2025

Broadcast

                          Hired Help - Part 3
                            Matthew 20:8-10
                              02/19/2025


        8    And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard
             said to his foreman, ``Call the laborers and pay
             them their wages, beginning with the last, up to
             the first.''
        9    And when those hired about the eleventh hour came,
             each of them received a denarius.
        10   Now when those hired first came, they thought they
             would receive more, but each of them also received
             a denarius.  (ESV)

        The master of the house had hired workers to labor in his
   vineyard.  Some were hired at dawn, some were hired near the end
   of the day.  Now the work day is over, and it is time to settle
   accounts.

        And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said
        to his foreman, ``Call the laborers and pay them their
        wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.''  And
        when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of
        them received a denarius.  Now when those hired first
        came, they thought they would receive more, but each of
        them also received a denarius.


        This parable is not about the hiring practices of a
   vineyard.  This parable is about the kingdom of heaven.  Those
   who do not reject the call to labor in the vineyard, those who
   have faith in God's promises, those who trust in Jesus Christ as
   their Redeemer from sin and death, are equal in the kingdom.
   After all, you cannot have partial eternal life.  Either you are
   in God's presence for eternity, or you are removed from His
   sight.

        Evening was the end of the age.  Those who were hired at the
   eleventh hour did not earn the gift of God's rich grace and
   favor.  Those who were hired at the third hour, or the sixth
   hour, or the ninth hour did not earn the gift of God's rich love.
   Even those who were hired at dawn received more than a just wage,
   they also did not deserve the denarius.  All people have sinned
   and have fallen short of the glory of God.  Those who have not
   rejected God's invitation, no matter when that invitation was
   given, receive the same.  God's ways are not our ways.

        May our Lord grant that we hear His invitation, that we
   enter into the vineyard of His Church to receive His eternal
   blessings of life and the forgiveness of our sins.  Amen.

February 18, 2025

Broadcast

                          Hired Help - Part 2
                            Matthew 20:6-7
                              02/18/2025


        6    And about the eleventh hour he went out and found
             others standing. And he said to them, ``Why do you
             stand here idle all day?''
        7    They said to him, ``Because no one has hired us.''
             He said to them, ``You go into the vineyard too.''
             (ESV)

        The master of the house went out at dawn to hire laborers to
   work in his vineyard.  After negotiating a fair wage with the
   laborers, the master sent them to work.  Because there was much
   to accomplish, and little time to finish the work, the master
   went out multiple times during the day, each time finding more
   people to do the work needed.

        And about the eleventh hour he went out and found
        others standing. And he said to them, ``Why do you
        stand here idle all day?''  They said to him, ``Because
        no one has hired us.'' He said to them, ``You go into
        the vineyard too.''


        The laborers hired at dawn knew they would get a standard
   day's wage.  Those hired later in the morning, those hired in the
   early afternoon, knew they would receive fair compensation.
   Finally, the laborers hired for one hour of work knew their day
   would not be a complete loss, but they would earn something.

        This parable is about the kingdom of heaven.  God's ways are
   not our ways.  What seems fair to you and I turns out to be
   opposed to God's rich love, grace, and mercy.

        The master, God the Father, calls people into His Church,
   into His presence, to bring the good news of salvation by grace
   through faith for the sake of Christ to all nations.  The Church
   exists to pour out God's love, to give to people the gift of
   eternal life.  It does not exist to give us the rules by which we
   earn God's favor, but rather to give us the forgiveness of our
   sins.  The works done by those who are called into the Church are
   done in response to the gift they receive from God.

        May our Lord grant that we hear His call, receive His grace,
   and reflect His mercy.  Amen.