Reflections: Saturday of the Week of Pentecost

Today’s Reading: Introit for Holy Trinity
(Psalm 8:1-2a, 3-5; antiphon: Liturgical Text)
Daily Lectionary: Numbers 32:1-6, 16-27; Luke 24:1-27

Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger. (From the Introit for the Holy Trinity)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The Introit for Trinity Sunday is based on Psalm 8. This psalm is pretty short and a good one to memorize. It gives you language to express humble awe at God’s power in creation, and gratitude for His grace to save you in Christ.

How beautiful is this psalm? Think of it like this: If you were going to praise God for His glory and majesty, where would you begin? Most people would pick something big, mighty, and powerful. But David (who wrote the psalm) starts with a helpless baby who coos, laughs, and cries. Why a baby? Because a baby cannot do anything to protect himself, yet he exists. God made him and God protects him. Even when Satan, the great enemy, comes after the child, God protects him.

But there’s more! When people fell into sin they were condemned to death and damnation. God would not let this be! God alone created us, and God alone could save us–so He did. The Father sent His Son. Jesus is true God and true man! He came to save us and defeat the enemy and the avenger. Christ came as a baby. He was born a man, a little lower than the angels, yet still eternally God. The mere fact that the eternal Son of God could cry and laugh as a human baby gave glory to God!

And there’s still more! Jesus won the fight against Satan when He died on the Cross. Risen from the dead, He gave us the gift of Baptism. The Holy Spirit brings this gift to us. We are baptized in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. We are born again as children of God, forgiven and at peace. We sing our praises to God as baptized children. Our songs glorify Him–His work of salvation has been accomplished and we are the living proof.

When we pray this psalm on Trinity Sunday, we join with believers around the world and in every age, praising the triune God! One God in three Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This God has created, redeemed, and sanctified us. Let us give glory to Him because He has shown His mercy to us!
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Father most holy, merciful and tender; Jesus, our Savior, with the Father reigning; Spirit of comfort, advocate, defender, Light never waning. (“Father Most Holy” LSB 504, st.1)

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Duane Bamsch