Category: Moments of Meditation

January 21, 2026

Broadcast

                      You are the Christ - Part 3
                           Mark 8:29,31-32a
                              01/21/2026


        29   And he asked them, ``But who do you say that I
             am?'' Peter answered him, ``You are the Christ.''
             ...
        31   And he began to teach them that the Son of Man
             must suffer many things and be rejected by the
             elders and the chief priests and the scribes and
             be killed, and after three days rise again.
        32   And he said this plainly.  (ESV)

        On January 18, the Church celebrated the Confession of Saint
   Peter.  We prayed:
        Heavenly Father, You revealed to the apostle Peter the
        blessed truth that Your Son Jesus is the Christ.
        Strengthen us by the proclamation of this truth that we
        too may joyfully confess that there is salvation in no
        one else.


        What does it mean that Jesus is the Christ?  How did Jesus
   define the work of the Messiah?
        And he asked them, ``But who do you say that I am?''
        Peter answered him, ``You are the Christ.'' ...  And he
        began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer
        many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief
        priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three
        days rise again.  And he said this plainly.


        The word ``Christ'' is Greek which means ``the anointed
   one.''  It is used to translate the Hebrew word ``Messiah.''
   Therefore, Jesus' answer to Peter is very important.

        There are two views of the Messiah or the Christ in the Old
   Testament.  The popular one is that of the Victor, the Conqueror,
   who brings peace and prosperity.  This is the political Messiah,
   the Messiah expected by the Jews at the time of Jesus, the Christ
   proclaimed by many today.  With this view of Christ, we overcome
   the world even while we are in the world.  This will happen on
   the last day, but not yet.

        Jesus speaks of the Suffering Servant, the sinless Son of
   God who bears the cross and dies for the sins of all people.  He
   defeated death, proving that we, on the last day, will rise
   again.  We find the Christ, not in victory, but in the cross as
   He pays the price of our transgressions.

        May our Lord grant that we trust in Jesus, not for temporal
   blessings, but as our eternal Savior.  Amen.

January 20, 2026

Broadcast

                      You are the Christ - Part 2
                             Mark 8:27-28
                              01/20/2026


        27   And Jesus went on with his disciples to the
             villages of Caesarea Philippi.  And on the way he
             asked his disciples, ``Who do people say that I
             am?''
        28   And they told him, ``John the Baptist; and others
             say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.''
        29   And he asked them, ``But who do you say that I
             am?'' Peter answered him, ``You are the Christ.''
             (ESV)

        On January 18, the Church celebrated the Confession of Saint
   Peter.  We prayed:
        Heavenly Father, You revealed to the apostle Peter the
        blessed truth that Your Son Jesus is the Christ.
        Strengthen us by the proclamation of this truth that we
        too may joyfully confess that there is salvation in no
        one else.


        ``And Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of
   Caesarea Philippi.  And on the way he asked his disciples, `Who
   do people say that I am?'  And they told him, `John the Baptist;
   and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.'''

        Who is Jesus?  Several surveys ask the question, ``Do you
   believe in Jesus?'' but fail to ask ``Do you believe Jesus is the
   Son of God?''  A majority of people believe that Jesus truly
   lived, but that He is simply a good man, a spiritual man, or a
   great teacher.[1] We contend, however, if Jesus is not who He
   claimed to be, then He is the most evil of all people.  Faith in
   Christ Jesus as the Son of God, as the Redeemer of the world,
   gives us hope and comfort in times of distress and need.  If He
   lied to us, then He ought not to be followed at all.

        But, like Peter, we confess that Jesus is the Christ.  This
   means that He is the Son of God, the Redeemer from sin and
   eternal death who was promised to our first parents.  As the
   sinless Son of God, He bore our sins upon the cross.  Therefore,
   in Him we have the promise of eternal life because our sins are
   forgiven for His sake.

        May our Lord grant that we truly believe Peter's confession
   about Jesus.  Amen.



   ____________________

   1. See:      https://www.barna.com/research/perceptions-of-jesus-
      christians-evangelism-in-the-uk/
      https://www.barna.com/research/what-do-americans-believe-
      about-jesus-5-popular-beliefs/

January 19, 2026

Broadcast

                      You are the Christ - Part 1
                             Mark 8:27-29
                              01/19/2026


        27   And Jesus went on with his disciples to the
             villages of Caesarea Philippi.  And on the way he
             asked his disciples, ``Who do people say that I
             am?''
        28   And they told him, ``John the Baptist; and others
             say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.''
        29   And he asked them, ``But who do you say that I
             am?'' Peter answered him, ``You are the Christ.''
             (ESV)

        Yesterday, January 18, the Church celebrated the Confession
   of Saint Peter.
        And Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of
        Caesarea Philippi.  And on the way he asked his
        disciples, ``Who do people say that I am?''  And they
        told him, ``John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah;
        and others, one of the prophets.''  And he asked them,
        ``But who do you say that I am?'' Peter answered him,
        ``You are the Christ.''


        We believe, teach, and confess that the way we answer this
   question determines how we are comforted during the trials on
   earth, and how we will spend eternity.  Therefore the Church
   prays:
        Heavenly Father, You revealed to the apostle Peter the
        blessed truth that Your Son Jesus is the Christ.
        Strengthen us by the proclamation of this truth that we
        too may joyfully confess that there is salvation in no
        one else; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who
        lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God,
        now and forever.


        The questions before us this week: who is Jesus, and what
   does it mean that He is the Christ?

        May our Lord grant that we know His Son and trust in Him for
   our salvation.  Amen.

January 16, 2026

Broadcast

                   The Baptism of Our Lord - Part 5
                           Matthew 28:18-20
                              01/16/2026


        18   And Jesus came and said to them, ``All authority
             in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
        19   Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,
             baptizing them in the name of the Father and of
             the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
        20   teaching them to observe all that I have commanded
             you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end
             of the age.''  (ESV)

        Last Sunday we prayed:
        Father in heaven, at the Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan
        River You proclaimed Him Your beloved Son and anointed
        Him with the Holy Spirit.  Make all who are baptized in
        His name faithful in their calling as Your children and
        inheritors with Him of everlasting life; through the
        same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord,  who lives and
        reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,


        The Church is God's gift to the world through which He gives
   the gift of the forgiveness of our sins.  Where there is
   forgiveness, there is eternal life.  His grace, love, and mercy
   is given to us through His Word and the sacraments which Jesus
   bestowed on the Church.

        After Jesus rose from the dead, and before He ascended into
   heaven, He met with His disciples.
        And Jesus came and said to them, ``All authority in
        heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Go therefore
        and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in
        the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy
        Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have
        commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the
        end of the age.''


        From that day until He returns in glory to judge both the
   living and the dead, the Church will proclaim the good news of
   salvation by administering the sacraments and proclaiming the
   Gospel.

        Please join us at Trinity Lutheran Church this Sunday at
   9:00 a.m. to hear of God's mercy, to receive the peace of knowing
   your sins are forgiven for the sake of Christ Jesus.

        May our Lord grant us faith to trust in Him for the
   salvation of our souls.  Amen.

January 15, 2026

Broadcast

                   The Baptism of Our Lord - Part 4
                             1 Peter 3:21
                              01/15/2026


        21   Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you,
             not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an
             appeal to God for a good conscience, through the
             resurrection of Jesus Christ, (ESV)

        Last Sunday we prayed:
        Father in heaven, at the Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan
        River You proclaimed Him Your beloved Son and anointed
        Him with the Holy Spirit.  Make all who are baptized in
        His name faithful in their calling as Your children and
        inheritors with Him of everlasting life.


        We believe, teach, and confess that Baptism is God's work
   whereby we are joined to the death and resurrection of Christ
   Jesus.  Through the washing of regeneration, through the water
   joined with the Word of God, we are marked as God's children and
   made co-heirs with Christ of eternal life.

        Saint Peter wrote:
        Baptism, which corresponds to this [Noah's ark and the
        flood], now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from
        the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience,
        through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,


        On the day of Pentecost, Peter also told the crowds,
   ``Repent and be baptized every one of you ... for the forgiveness
   of your sins.  For the promise is for you and for your children
   and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls
   to himself.''[1]

        Baptism is a visible sign, and a daily reminder, that we are
   buried with Christ Jesus and risen with Christ Jesus, and have
   been marked as the beloved children of the Heavenly Father.

        May our Lord grant us faith to regard our baptism as a
   precious gift by which He gives us His grace, love, and mercy.
   Amen.










   ____________________

   1. Acts 2:38a,39 (ESV)

January 14, 2026

Broadcast

                   The Baptism of Our Lord - Part 3
                             Romans 6:3-4
                              01/14/2026


        3    Do you not know that all of us who have been
             baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his
             death?
        4    We were buried therefore with him by baptism into
             death, in order that, just as Christ was raised
             from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too
             might walk in newness of life.  (ESV)

        Last Sunday we prayed:
        Father in heaven, at the Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan
        River You proclaimed Him Your beloved Son and anointed
        Him with the Holy Spirit.  Make all who are baptized in
        His name faithful in their calling as Your children and
        inheritors with Him of everlasting life.


        In the Collect, the prayer of the Church, we called upon our
   Heavenly Father to bless us because of the baptism of Jesus.  We
   believe, teach, and confess that Jesus reveals to the world the
   grace, love, and mercy of the Father.  We also believe, teach,
   and confess that the Holy Spirit creates and preserves in us the
   faith which trusts that Jesus' death and resurrection are for our
   salvation.

        Saint Paul wrote:
        Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized
        into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?  We
        were buried therefore with him by baptism into death,
        in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead
        by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in
        newness of life.


        In our prayer, we certainly ask our Father to send the Holy
   Spirit to give us the faith to trust in Jesus' death and
   resurrection on our behalf.  We also ask for the faith to know
   that baptism is God's work to give us the benefit of our Lord's
   sacrifice, applying to each person who is baptized the
   forgiveness won for us on the cross.

        May our Lord grant us faith to hold to His promise of life
   everlasting for the sake of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

January 13, 2026

Broadcast

                   The Baptism of Our Lord - Part 2
                            Matthew 3:16-17
                              01/13/2026


        16   And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went
             up from the water, and behold, the heavens were
             opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God
             descending like a dove and coming to rest on him;
        17   and behold, a voice from heaven said, ``This is my
             beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.  (ESV)

        Last Sunday we prayed:
        Father in heaven, at the Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan
        River You proclaimed Him Your beloved Son and anointed
        Him with the Holy Spirit.  Make all who are baptized in
        His name faithful in their calling as Your children and
        inheritors with Him of everlasting life.


        In the ancient Church, the celebration of the Epiphany, of
   the revealing of Jesus as the Son of God, was centered on three
   events.  The first was the visit of the Wise Men, the Magi, and
   the presentation of their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
   The second was the Baptism of Jesus.  The third was the Wedding
   of Cana where Jesus performed His first miracle.

        In the Baptism of Jesus, where He willingly placed Himself
   under the Law so to fulfill the Law on our behalf, we see all
   three persons of the Trinity.
        And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up
        from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to
        him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a
        dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice
        from heaven said, ``This is my beloved Son, with whom I
        am well pleased.


        All four Gospel accounts speak of the Trinity, of the Spirit
   resting on Jesus, of the voice of the Father.  The three Persons
   of the Triune God are in agreement, the salvation of all people
   is in accordance with God's will.

        May our Lord grant that we hear the voice of the Father who
   accepts the sacrifice of His Son for our redemption from sin and
   death.  Amen.

January 12, 2025

Broadcast

                   The Baptism of Our Lord - Part 1
                            Matthew 3:13-15
                              01/12/2026


        13   Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to
             John, to be baptized by him.
        14   John would have prevented him, saying, ``I need to
             be baptized by you, and do you come to me?''
        15   But Jesus answered him, ``Let it be so now, for
             thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all
             righteousness.'' Then he consented.  (ESV)

        Last Sunday we prayed:
        Father in heaven, at the Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan
        River You proclaimed Him Your beloved Son and anointed
        Him with the Holy Spirit.  Make all who are baptized in
        His name faithful in their calling as Your children and
        inheritors with Him of everlasting life; through the
        same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord,  who lives and
        reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,


        In the Epiphany season we see Jesus, who is true man,
   revealed as the Son of God.  Nowhere is this more clear than in
   the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptizer at the Jordan River.
   Saint Matthew recorded:
        Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to
        be baptized by him.  John would have prevented him,
        saying, ``I need to be baptized by you, and do you come
        to me?''  But Jesus answered him, ``Let it be so now,
        for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all
        righteousness.'' Then he consented.


        John was the forerunner of the Christ, proclaiming,
   ``Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.''  He called
   people to recognize their sin, to confess their sin, and to flee
   to God's infinite mercy.  However, John recognized Jesus as being
   sinless, as having no need of repentance.

        By being baptized, Jesus willingly took upon Himself the
   sins of all people.  He was anointed both by the water and the
   Holy Spirit to become our Redeemer from sin and death.

        May our Lord grant that we recognize that Jesus was baptized
   for our salvation.  Amen.

January 9, 2025

Broadcast

                        The True Light - Part 5
                              John 1:1-5
                              01/09/2026


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

        As the Christmas season ends and the Church enters the
   Epiphany season, we ponder the words of Saint John:
        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.


        Last Sunday the Church prayed:
        Almighty God, You have poured into our hearts the true
        Light of Your incarnate Word.  Grant that this Light
        may shine forth in our lives; through the same Jesus
        Christ, Your Son, our Lord,  who lives and reigns with
        You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.


        The Church exists, not to be morality police, not as the
   gathering place for the holy, but to bring the light of life into
   this sin-darkened world.  As members of Christ's Church, we seek
   to reflect the love of God which has called us from eternal death
   into the promise of heaven.

        All we do is a response to Christ Jesus, in light of the
   message, salvation is by grace through faith for His sake.  He
   promises to be with us.  We find Him where He promises, in the
   Word which is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path; in
   Baptism where we are buried with Him and rise with Him; in the
   Lord's Supper where we receive His true body and blood under the
   bread and wine; and in absolution where He pronounces our sins
   forgiven.

        Please join us this coming Sunday, and every Sunday, at
   Trinity Lutheran Church at 9:00 a.m. to hear the good news of our
   Savior.  May our Lord grant you the light of His grace.  Amen.

January 8, 2026

Broadcast

                        The True Light - Part 4
                             John 14:13-14
                              01/08/2026


        13   Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that
             the Father may be glorified in the Son.
        14   If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.
             (ESV)

        Last Sunday the Church prayed:
        Almighty God, You have poured into our hearts the true
        Light of Your incarnate Word.  Grant that this Light
        may shine forth in our lives; through the same Jesus
        Christ, Your Son, our Lord,  who lives and reigns with
        You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.


        We dare to approach the Almighty God, not because of
   anything we have done, but because He sent the true Light of the
   Incarnate Word to redeem us from sin, death, and the power of the
   devil.  All prayer comes from faith, trust that our heavenly
   Father will indeed answer our petition for our eternal benefit
   and for His glory.

        Even as we pray for temporal blessings, we pray as children
   who do not truly understand the consequences of our desires.  At
   times the best answer God can give is ``no,'' for the very thing
   we desire may be harmful.  At times the best answer God can give
   is ``wait,'' for all things are done in His time for the good of
   those who trust in Him.  At times the best answer God can give is
   ``yes,'' for the temporal blessing we seek is according to God's
   will.

        When we pray for spiritual blessings, for faith, for
   forgiveness, for wisdom, God always answers ``yes.''  Jesus told
   His disciples, and the Church: ``Whatever you ask in my name,
   this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  If
   you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.''

        Thus, we are bold to pray, not because of our goodness, but
   because Jesus has invited us to pray in His name because of His
   righteousness.

        May our Lord grant us faith to pray without ceasing, to
   recognize that our heavenly Father hears us for the sake of His
   Son.  Amen.