This Sunday we heard the account of the Transfiguration from Gospel of Matthew 17:1–9 — a breathtaking moment where Jesus’ glory shines and the Father’s voice declares, “This is My beloved Son… listen to Him.”

In the Old Testament, God’s people sometimes heard His voice in dramatic, face-to-face ways. Today, He still speaks — faithfully and clearly — through His Word and in His Church. Yet if we’re honest, listening isn’t always easy. The noise of busy schedules, work, and activities crowds in, and we’re often quick to speak but slow to hear.
God’s Word does something in us. The Law shows us our sin — and we don’t always like what we hear. It calls us to confession, to turn back to Him. Sometimes we even wonder if we’re beyond forgiveness. But the Gospel speaks louder: Grace alone. Christ crucified for us. Risen for us. In Jesus Christ, we hear the voice that forgives, restores, and promises that a place is prepared for us in heaven.

Listening to God doesn’t always look dramatic. Often it’s quiet — hearing Scripture, receiving forgiveness, gathering around Word and Sacrament. But it is always for our good, because He loves us and cares for us.

As we head into a new week, may we slow down, return to His Word, and trust that the voice of Christ is not a burden but a gift — life-giving, steady, and full of mercy.

— In Christ, your family at Trinity Lutheran Church Cedar Rapids, IA—Lutheran Church Missouri Synod