Letters On The Page

Twenty-Second Sunday after Pentecost Leviticus 19:1-2, 15-18 1 Thessalonians 2:1-13 Matthew 22:34-46 If I ever have the opportunity to provide a summary heading for Matthew 22, I will rename it: Welcome friends to the chapter of questions. There are five distinct sections in Matthew 22. Four of the five involve a question – “Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” Then, there is the Sadducees lead up to their question by presenting a disastrous scenario of a woman who is bereft of seven husbands. The question – “In the resurrection, therefore, of the seven men, whose wife will she be.”  Then there are the questions in the Gospel for today: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Then, there are the conversation stopper three questions that Jesus asks, “What do you think about the Christ?” “Whose son is he?” “If, then, David calls him Lord, how is he his son?” As an educator of spiritual writings, history, and religious practices, I know that questions are...

Link to Post Courtesy, Decorum, and Etiquette Although I did not know it until quite recently, this past year (2025) was the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth. I guess that would make her a year older than our nation. She died in 1817, at the age of 41, which makes her significant literary contributions all the more remarkable. Her six completed novels are universally recognized as foundational and timeless classics of English literature, introducing a number of notable developments, such as free indirect discourse, deep psychological realism, and sharp social satire, turning away from the melodrama of 18th-century novels and dwelling on everyday domestic life. For all of these reasons and more, Jane Austen’s books have remained in continuous publication since 1833, being studied worldwide by academic institutions and enjoyed by countless general readers. Anyway, my wife and daughters and daughters-in-law, as well as many friends over the years, have often commented on their lov...

Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost 21   Isaiah 45:1-7   1 Thessalonians 1:1-10   Matthew 22:15-22 In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen. In the reading from Isaiah 45, did any of you raise a questioning eyebrow when you saw the word “anointed” connected to the name of “Cyrus?” It is a surprising connection. In the Old Testament, the word “anointed” is someone that is designated by God for a special, unique purpose. When Saul and David were selected to be the first and second kings of Israel, their selection was announced and confirmed by the anointing of oil by the priest Samuel. God compelled Samuel, a recognized man of God to anoint them.  One of the titles that we use to speak of Jesus, the Son of God, is the word Messiah. Messiah literally means “anointed one.” A messiah is a man that is chosen by God for a specific purpose. The specific purpose always involves leadership of one kind or another. Saul and David are selected to be kin...

20th Sunday after Pentecost  Isaiah 25:6-9   Philippians 4:4-13   Matthew 22:1-14 In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.  The 19th century American poet Emily Dickinson wrote a brief poem from which, I regularly see the first line in various publications. Since the poem is brief, I will read the whole thing.  Tell all the truth but tell it slant –  Success in Circuit lies Too bright for our infirm Delight The Truth’s superb surprise As Lightning to the children eased With explanation kind The Truth must dazzle gradually Or every man be blind During his teaching and healing ministry, Jesus found himself in regular conflict with other religious leaders over Biblical interpretation. For example, many Pharisees loudly disagreed with Jesus’ insistence on healing on the Sabbath. Today’s Gospel is part of a lengthy conversation Jesus has with the Temple priests, elders, and Pharisees. The Temple priests also disagree with Jesus’ words and behav...

Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost  Isaiah 5:1-7 Philippians 3:4b-14 Matthew 21:33-46 O Lord, let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, my Rock and my Redeemer. Amen.  God, through His prophets, His Son Jesus, and His Apostles, uses a wide variety of images and metaphors to communicate His message of Law and Gospel to us. In the prophet Isaiah and Jesus, we encounter the image of the Vineyard. The image of the Vineyard can be found elsewhere in the Bible.  The Vineyard is like a well-planned garden. It is organized. It is planted with intention for beauty and for ease of movement of visitors, workers, and harvesters. The branches are pruned so that the Vineyard produces abundantly. The vineyard provides grapes which may be enjoyed for their own sake or they can be made into wine. Wine promotes a community coming together, celebration and dance, conversation, deepening of friendships. All of which lead to joy.  The Vineyard that...

  https://in.lcms.org/what-ive-recently-been-reading-and-wanting-to-read/ What I’ve Recently Been Reading and Wanting to Read It’s been over a year since the last time I shared some books for consideration, and at a recent Circuit Winkel one of the pastors asked me when I’d be offering another such post. As it so happens, there have been a number of books that have come to my attention over the past many months, and I always enjoy sharing these discoveries with others. For the sake of full disclosure, many of the titles on this list are on my “to read” list, rather than ones I have already read; others are “in progress,” as I’m able. At this point in my life, the reality is that most of my “reading” is by way of listening to Audible books as I drive – and I’ve not yet found the following books available in that format. But we all plug along as best as we can! Theodore Graebner, The Borderland of Right and Wrong , Eighth Edition (Concordia Publishing House, 1951). This first book on...