Twelfth Sunday after Trinity (2026)

Psalm 146

My Brothers and Sisters in Christ, the Psalm for today begins with the word Hallelujah, meaning Praise God. The Psalmist begins to explain why he will praise the Lord as long as he lives. I don’t preach often on the Psalms, but I will the next two weeks to provide some insight into this Psalms, these songs, that have been sung and shared by countless Christians throughout the ages, and believers who did not yet know Christ by name, but trusted God’s promise to provide a Savior.

The Psalms

It’s the longest book.

It is found in the middle of your Bible and if you just open to the middle you will often land in the Psalms. It is 150 chapters long, and while some Psalms are just a few verses, like Psalm 70. You have Psalm 119 that is 176 verses long and is a prolonged meditation on the Word of God and the greatness that God has revealed to us.

The book has many authors.

Psalm 90 is written by Moses, you have many Psalms written by David, there is a group known as the Sons of Korah, Asaph, and many others, and they emphasize the glory and majesty of God and coming before the Lord in all our Joy, in our trials, we seek justice for being wronged, and for mercy when we have sinned against the Lord.

There's a Psalm for most emotions.

They are written in a poetic style which speaks to our hearts as opposed to other parts which emphasize a systematic presentation of who God is, and what He has done, but this is to not say they are lacking in depth and knowledge and proclaiming the mysteries of God. For they help shape our prayers, and our praise based upon what God has revealed through the prophets and the Apostles. So I would encourage all of you to know at least one Psalm and to use it to guide your prayers. But being Scripture, we must remember their primary focus.

Importantly, they point to Jesus.

When Jesus is speaking with the disciples in the upper room he says to them, Luke 24:44 “Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.””

Praise Belongs to God

We praise Him all our life.

This may sound like a bit much, but Christ does not forbid any from coming to him. The children are invited forward, and even those who are older are in need of Jesus Christ our Lord. Christ’s Kingdom is not focused on a sole group to the exclusion of others. Christ gave His life for both young and old. Regardless of your age, we are to praise him.

Why? Look at God’s wonders.

We look at the world and see how it fits together a bit too well. That each part of the world is needed and works together in harmony. There are those like the ancient greeks who claim that from chaos came all things, but then still speak of the fates by which all things happen. So which is it chaos or order? Well the Scriptures tell us it is about Order in spite of the corruption of Sin for God is

He is our Creator.

The Psalms affirm this time and again and that is why here in this latter psalm, we glorify and praise God, because we are able to trust in him for all we need. For God cares for His creation and in particular for those that the world does not treat kindly or regard as well off. Quite often we find ourselves disappointed when we look to other sources for comfort and hope. The Bible talks about who people are putting their faith in, who

Who Do People Trust?

People turned from God to trust princes.

Israel had a king for many centuries, but when you look at the history of their kings you find that they had a long history of not abiding by God’s Word. The good kings were few and far between. The reason you don’t trust in them is that they are mortal and when they die their plans go with them.

What about today?

We don’t have princes are kings in our land, but we have politicians, and political parties. Whereas people would get into heated arguments and debates about churches, as religious beliefs have weakened, they have been replaced by politics. Convinced that the right official will save our nation from its destruction, that’s putting your trust in princes, now do

Do they keep their Word?

No, they tend not to, so why would we trust in those who cannot keep their words? Who cannot fulfill their promises, and whose plans perish with them, when the breath of life departs from their lips? We are to remember they are mortal, and they cannot achieve all that they claim. But

What about the Prince of peace?

For we as Christians long for His return, He who has been crowned with all glory and honor. We can understand the dismay of the disciple when Jesus was laid to rest in the tomb, for they believed him to be the Christ, the Son of David, the King whose Kingdom would last forever. For they wanted the Kingdom of peace, of righteousness, where there is no injustice, no suffering, no sorrow, no more illness, and they saw a glimpse of that in the ministry of Christ as He overcame the effects of sins by these miracles. They didn’t fully understand

Christ’s Eternal Kingdom

All these things are in Christ’s kingdom.

However, Christ’s Kingdom is not of this world. It is in the world that is to come for this world will be brought to an end. The wages of sin is death, and because of that corruption that has plagued our human flesh since the garden, death comes for us. All of these ailments are reminders that we, like those princes, are mortal. Everyone going through affliction, trials, and loss is reminded of that painful fact. This leaves us feeling very weak, as there is much that is outside of our ability to change, but

Jesus did not forsake the weak.

He did not abandon those who were sick, those who were unclean, the poor, the suffering, and those who knew the pain of death. He came into the world specifically to rescue us from these things and to make us citizens of His Kingdom. This kingdom is not established for the great and the capable and those who have accomplished and were strong and proud.

All who seek mercy will find it.

You will find that mercy there in the Cross. No matter how far you have fallen, no matter how much you have failed as a person, Christ came into the world for you. He is there on the Cross because He didn’t ignore the suffering, pain, and anguish that there is in the world, He became flesh to walk amongst us and share in our struggles, and bring them to an end, and establish an everlasting Kingdom where you are welcome. That is why you

You Are Blessed by Christ

Is He not your hope?

For we believe that what He did for us, the Words of forgiveness, and the promises that he attached to the Lord’s Supper and Holy Baptism are for you. That when someone asks why are you saved? Why are you going to be ok even though you have all this suffering, tragedy, and misery, we can answer gladly. Because Christ has made me a member of his Kingdom. Who cares about princes? What loss can I suffer in this world, that Christ will not restore to me what is missing here?

Some may scoff and say how do you know this, how many plans come to nothing? How many men have made great promises? Well

He died, did His plans perish?

No. Even though he lay in the grave 3 days, on Easter morning, we joyfully proclaim Christ is Risen! He Is Risen indeed Alleluia. Death cannot stop him, and that he now lives and reigns forever and is seated at the right hand fo the throne of GOd, who will stop His plans? No one, they will be fulfilled. So rejoice this day for

He set you free from Hell.

That was our destination that would have made our sufferings here on earth look like nothing, but Jesus has declared that you no longer belong to Satan’s dominion, you belong to the Kingdom of God, and have been made a citizen through the waters of Holy Baptism.

My Brothers and Sisters in Christ, for all that GOd has done for us, Hallelujah, Praise the Lord. For not only has God shown his greatness throughout the entire Creation, but He has shown it to us in the care and love that was given to us through His Son Jesus Christ. Christ through His miracles showed that He is the Messiah, He is God in the flesh, who fulfills all these promises, and so the promise that He made to you, to forgive your sins, to secure for you a citizenship in His Kingdom, and a place where there is no more pain nor suffering is tied to His eternal life. For He keeps all his promises, and we rejoice that He has been crowned in glory. In Jesus name Amen.