Category: Moments of Meditation

July 4, 2025

Broadcast

                         Prayer for the Nation
                            1 Timothy 2:1-2
                              07/04/2025


        1    First of all, then, I urge that supplications,
             prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made
             for all people,
        2    for kings and all who are in high positions, that
             we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and
             dignified in every way.  (ESV)

        Saint Paul wrote:
        First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers,
        intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all
        people, for kings and all who are in high positions,
        that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and
        dignified in every way.


        On this Independence Day, it is fitting, therefore, to offer
   the prayer once delivered by George Washington:
        Almighty God, we make our earnest prayer that Thou wilt
        keep the United States in Thy holy protection, that
        Thou wilt incline the hearts of the citizens to
        cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to
        government, and entertain a brotherly affection and
        love for one another and for their fellow citizens of
        the United States at large.

             And Finally that Thou wilt most graciously be
        pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy,
        and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility,
        and pacific temper of mind which were the
        characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed
        religion, and without an humble imitation of whose
        example in these things, we can never hope to be a
        happy nation.

             Grant our supplication, be beseech Thee, through
        Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.[1]
   ____________________

   1. Written at Newburg, June 8, 1783, and sent to the Governors of
      all the States.  From 1942 Armed Forces hymnal.

July 3, 2025

Broadcast

                     Confessing the Faith - Part 4
                           Matthew 16:18-19
                              07/03/2025


        18   ``And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock
             I will build my church, and the gates of hell
             shall not prevail against it.
        19   I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven,
             and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in
             heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be
             loosed in heaven.''  (ESV)

        Jesus asked His disciples, ``But who do you say that I am?''
   Simon Peter replied, ``You are the Christ, the Son of the living
   God.''

        Saint Peter's great confession is the confession of the
   Church.  Jesus said:
        ``And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I
        will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not
        prevail against it.  I will give you the keys of the
        kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall
        be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth
        shall be loosed in heaven.''


        Peter, whose name means ``Rock,'' is not the one upon whom
   the Church is built.  His rock-like confession, however, is the
   foundation of all we believe, teach, and confess.  The entire Old
   Testament proclaims God's mercy that the Messiah, the Christ, the
   Anointed One, will pay the price of the sins of iniquities of all
   people.  Peter's confession declares Jesus as our only hope of
   salvation, the One who defeats sin, death, and the power of the
   devil.  As Jesus lived, died, and rose again, so we too shall
   rise from the dead.

        The Church exists to proclaim that message to all people, to
   you and your family.  It is in the Church where you will be told
   of the forgiveness of your sins, and be declared holy and
   righteous before God.  There is nowhere else to turn for the
   comfort of God's grace.

        May our Lord grant you the desire to learn more, to hear the
   good news of the Gospel as proclaimed at 9:00 each Sunday morning
   at Trinity Lutheran Church.  Amen.

July 2, 2025

Broadcast

                     Confessing the Faith - Part 3
                             Matthew 16:17
                              07/02/2025


        17   And Jesus answered him, ``Blessed are you, Simon
             Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed
             this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.''
             (ESV)

        Jesus asked His disciples, ``But who do you say that I am?''
   Simon Peter replied, ``You are the Christ, the Son of the living
   God.''

        This is the proper confession of faith made by the Christian
   Church.  How can we make such a bold confession?  Is this the
   result of human logic, academic study, or scientific exploration?
   Can we, who are by nature sinful and unclean, who fearfully run
   from the mere mention of God, come to know the truth by our own
   wisdom?  If, in my sinful, selfish ways, I desire to be like God,
   to replace God, how can I come to the conclusion confessed by
   Peter?

        ``And Jesus answered him, `Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah!
   For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father
   who is in heaven.'''

        The Holy Spirit works through the proclaimed Word of God to
   create the faith which believes and confesses Jesus Christ as our
   Redeemer from sin and death.  Even something as simple as 120
   seconds of air time on a small radio station in rural Minnesota
   can proclaim to you the truth of Jesus.  If this two minutes
   causes you to ask questions, or if it causes you to call the
   church to complain about the witness of the truth, the Holy
   Spirit is causing you to learn of God's rich love, grace, and
   mercy.

        Our prayer is simple, that the Holy Spirit brings you the
   comfort of knowing your sins are forgiven for the sake of the
   holy, precious blood and innocent suffering and death of our
   Savior.

        May our Lord grant us faith to believe the Gospel, and to
   confess the truth with Saint Peter, ``You are the Christ, the Son
   of the living God.''  Amen.

July 1, 2025

Broadcast

                     Confessing the Faith - Part 2
                           Matthew 16:15-16
                              07/01/2025


        15   He said to them, ``But who do you say that I am?''
        16   Simon Peter replied, ``You are the Christ, the Son
             of the living God.''  (ESV)

        Jesus asked the disciples, ``Who do people say that the Son
   of Man is?''  The title, ``Son of Man,'' refers to a prophecy in
   the book of Daniel[1] where we read:
        I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds
        of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came
        to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him.
        And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom,
        that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve
        him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which
        shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not
        be destroyed.


        Jesus, in applying this title to Himself, confesses both His
   divinity and His humanity.  Although the crowds saw Jesus as a
   prophet, the same question must be asked of the disciples.  ``He
   said to them, `But who do you say that I am?'  Simon Peter
   replied, `You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.'''

        This is the proper confession of faith made by the Christian
   Church.  Jesus is true God, begotten of His Father before all
   worlds, and true man, born of the virgin Mary.  He is the one
   promised by God who takes upon Himself our sins, bearing our
   guilt, and giving to us His righteousness.

        Like Peter, we boldly proclaim the truth.  It does not
   matter what popular opinion may be, the truth remains.

        May our Lord make us bold to believe that Jesus is the
   Christ, and confidently speak of His love, grace, and mercy.
   Amen.
   ____________________

   1. Daniel 7:13-14 (ESV)

June 30, 2025

Broadcast

                     Confessing the Faith - Part 1
                           Matthew 16:13-14
                              06/30/2025


        13   Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea
             Philippi, he asked his disciples, ``Who do people
             say that the Son of Man is?''
        14   And they said, ``Some say John the Baptist, others
             say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the
             prophets.''  (ESV)

        Last Sunday was the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul.  At one
   time, this feast was considered the most important feast after
   Easter and Christmas.  Both Peter and Paul brought the good news
   of salvation by God's rich love alone to both Jew and gentile.
   These are the preeminent Apostles, the ones to whom the church
   has looked for the truth of God's mercy.

        How fitting that the Gospel for this past Sunday is Saint
   Peter's great confession of Jesus as the promised Messiah, the
   Son of the living God.  For several weeks we have been looking at
   the marks of the Church, the God we worship, the necessity of
   hearing His holy Word.  Now we begin to answer the question that
   Jesus posed to His disciples.

        Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea
        Philippi, he asked his disciples, ``Who do people say
        that the Son of Man is?''  And they said, ``Some say
        John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others
        Jeremiah or one of the prophets.''


        Everyone has an opinion about Jesus.  Some say He was a good
   teacher, but not the Son of God.  Others suggest He is the
   example for morality and service, but is not the Son of God.  You
   may even hear people suggest he is a myth, somewhat like King
   Arthur, whose story may have an element of truth, but certainly
   not as elaborate as the books about Him may suggest.

        How do you answer this question?  Who is Jesus?  That is the
   question for the week.

        May our Lord grant us wisdom to see, recognize, and properly
   confess Jesus.  Amen.

June 27, 2025

Broadcast

                   The Rich Man and Lazarus - Part 5
                             Luke 16:30-31
                              06/27/2025


        30   And he said, ``No, father Abraham, but if someone
             goes to them from the dead, they will repent.''
        31   He said to him, ``If they do not hear Moses and
             the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if
             someone should rise from the dead.''  (ESV)

        This week, as we studied the Rich Man and Lazarus, we asked
   three questions.  First, what is the Church?  The Church is the
   people who trust in God's grace and mercy who are gathered around
   God's Word and the sacraments.  How are we saved from sin and
   death?  We are redeemed by God's grace, because Jesus Christ bore
   the guilt of our sins upon the cross, dying in our place, and
   rising again to give us eternal life.  Finally, what is the role
   of good works in our salvation?  Good works show a living faith.

        The rich man is arguing with Abraham.  First, he demanded
   Abraham send Lazarus from heaven to Hades to give him drink of
   water.  When that failed, he demanded that Lazarus be sent to
   warn his brothers about the fate of those who trust in wealth and
   power.  Now he contradicts Abraham who directed the brothers to
   truly listen to Moses and the prophets.

        And [the rich man] said, ``No, father Abraham, but if
        someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.''
        He said to him, ``If they do not hear Moses and the
        Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone
        should rise from the dead.''


        Jesus has risen from the dead.  That truth has not convinced
   anyone to join the Church, to hear of God's love.  If you desire
   the comfort and hope of God's grace, love, and mercy, you will
   want to study God's Word.  Please join us at Trinity Lutheran
   Church each Sunday morning at 9:00 a.m. to learn of the Father's
   love and the gift of the forgiveness of sins for the sake of
   Christ Jesus.

        May our Lord grant us the wisdom to hear Moses and the
   prophets.  Amen.

June 26, 2025

Broadcast

                   The Rich Man and Lazarus - Part 4
                             Luke 16:27-29
                              06/26/2025


        27   And he said, ``Then I beg you, father, to send him
             to my father's house --
        28   for I have five brothers -- that he may warn them,
             lest they also come into this place of torment.''
        29   But Abraham said, ``They have Moses and the
             Prophets; let them hear them.''  (ESV)

        This week we are looking at the Rich Man and Lazarus.  The
   rich man and Abraham are talking after Abraham refused the rich
   man's command that Lazarus journey to Hades with a drop of water.

        And [the rich man] said, ``Then I beg you, father, to
        send him to my father's house -- for I have five
        brothers -- that he may warn them, lest they also come
        into this place of torment.''  But Abraham said, ``They
        have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.''


        We believe, teach, and confess that the Church is the people
   who truly trust in God's grace, love, and mercy, who look to the
   Word of God, both written and visible in the sacraments, to know
   of Jesus Christ as their Redeemer from sin, death, and the power
   of the devil.  Riches are no indicator of God's eternal favor.
   Our good works do not pay the price of our sins.

        There is only one source of knowledge, one source of
   doctrine, for the Church.  That is the inspired Word of God,
   Moses and the prophets and the apostolic writers.  The Old and
   New Testaments combined give us all we need to know of God's rich
   grace, love, and mercy.  The Bible tells us plainly that the
   Father sent the Son to die for our sins, to earn for us
   redemption from eternal death.  This redemption is a gift, not
   something we earn.

        Moses and the prophets are sufficient witness of the truth
   so that we may know of the Father's love, the Son sacrifice, and
   the Holy Spirit's work of bringing us to faith in Christ.

        May our Lord grant us faith to hear Moses and the prophets
   for our eternal blessing.  Amen.

June 25, 2025

Broadcast

                   The Rich Man and Lazarus - Part 3
                             Luke 16:24-26
                              06/25/2025


        24   And he called out, ``Father Abraham, have mercy on
             me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger
             in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish
             in this flame.''
        25   But Abraham said, ``Child, remember that you in
             your lifetime received your good things, and
             Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is
             comforted here, and you are in anguish.
        26   And besides all this, between us and you a great
             chasm has been fixed, in order that those who
             would pass from here to you may not be able, and
             none may cross from there to us.''  (ESV)

        This week we are studying the story of the Rich Man and
   Lazarus.  Earlier we saw that the rich man was selfish, caring
   only for his own comfort.  He was arrogant, even after dying,
   being judged, and being cast into Hades where he had no comfort.
   Lazarus, on the other hand, is seated beside Abraham at the
   unending heavenly banquet.  The rich man complains, Lazarus is
   silent.

        And [the rich man] called out, ``Father Abraham, have
        mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his
        finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish
        in this flame.''  But Abraham said, ``Child, remember
        that you in your lifetime received your good things,
        and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is
        comforted here, and you are in anguish.  And besides
        all this, between us and you a great chasm has been
        fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to
        you may not be able, and none may cross from there to
        us.''


        Even in death, the rich man demands that Lazarus do for him
   what he was unwilling to do.  But there is no help for the rich
   man, neither in heaven or hell, for the rich man is separated
   from the love of God.  Although Abraham still calls him
   ``Child,'' and acknowledges the rich man as his son, even Abraham
   can give no comfort.

        Can there be a greater punishment than to long for the
   blessings of God, to see the joys of heaven, and know that we, by
   our own selfish desires, chose to reject our heavenly Father's
   invitation?

        May our Lord grant us wisdom to learn from the words of
   Jesus, that we trust in our heavenly Father for all things, and
   reflect His love to those in need.  Amen.

June 24, 2025

Broadcast

                   The Rich Man and Lazarus - Part 2
                             Luke 16:22-23
                              06/24/2025


        22   The poor man died and was carried by the angels to
             Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was
             buried,
        23   and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his
             eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his
             side.  (ESV)

        This week we are considering the story of the Rich Man and
   Lazarus, which Jesus spoke to warn the Pharisees about the love
   of money.  As you may recall, the rich man held a daily feast
   while Lazarus starved outside the gate.

        The poor man died and was carried by the angels to
        Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried,
        and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes
        and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.


        We have no back-story on Lazarus, how he lived his life, how
   he trusted in God.  We know, however, that when he died, God's
   angels carried him to the never- ending feast in heaven where he
   was seated in the place of honor by the side of the first
   patriarch, Abraham.  On the other hand, we know the selfish rich
   man may have been a community leader, but he cared nothing for
   his neighbor, for those less fortunate.  He trusted in his
   wealth, not God.

        In death, the rich man was alone, condemned for his lack of
   faith in God's mercy.  We know the rich man did not have faith in
   God, for faith in God brings forth good works which serve those
   in need.  Although we cannot see into a man's heart, we can see
   the fruits of their labors.  After all, we confess that we are to
   fear, love, and trust in God above all things, and love our
   neighbors as ourselves.

        The judgment was swift.  Both men quickly knew their fate.
   Lazarus was at the heavenly banquet, the rich man even lacked
   water to quench his thirst.

        May our Lord grant us faith which trusts in His promises and
   bears good fruit for the benefit of our neighbors.  Amen.

June 23, 2025

Broadcast

                   The Rich Man and Lazarus - Part 1
                             Luke 16:19-21
                              06/23/2025


        19   There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and
             fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day.
        20   And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus,
             covered with sores,
        21   who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich
             man's table. Moreover, even the dogs came and
             licked his sores.  (ESV)

        During the first weeks after Pentecost, the readings for
   each Sunday focus on the questions, ``What is the Church?''
   ``How are we saved from sin and death?''  ``What is the role of
   good works in our salvation?''  The story of the Rich Man and
   Lazarus gives us some insight as we ponder these questions.

        There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine
        linen and who feasted sumptuously every day.  And at
        his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered
        with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from
        the rich man's table. Moreover, even the dogs came and
        licked his sores.


        As we consider the two men, the rich man would be a leader
   in the community.  Everyone desires to get on the good side of
   the wealthy, even if the wealthy person is selfish and arrogant,
   as we will discover was the case of this gentleman.  At the same
   time, everyone would try to avoid the diseased, poverty-stricken
   beggar.

        Both of these men are considered children of Abraham,
   members of the Church.  Both seek the joy of heaven, the peace of
   knowing their sins are forgiven, that they are acceptable to God.

        This week we will consider the Church, the people of God who
   are gathered at God's invitation, as we read this story.

        May our Lord grant you the peace and comfort which comes
   from His promise of forgiveness and life everlasting.  Amen.