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Two Worlds is a digital ministry space that shares the RCL readings, a brief homily, and supporting images, music, and ELCA commemorations. The blog is authored by Paul Rykken in consultation with Pastor Jen Hatleli of Evangelical Lutheran Church in Black River Falls, Wisconsin (ELCA). The blog lands more naturally on a larger screen. Also, hyperlinks are included for further information — they are bolded and italicized.
Greek Philosopher
On my mind . . . .
One of my favorite passages in Scripture is 1 Corinthians 13:12: “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.”
It’s my go-to text when I’m struggling to understand God’s word, and honestly, when I’m trying to make sense of much else in life. Paul’s Greek heritage echoes here, particularly the influence of Plato, who suggested that much of what we perceive is only a shadow of reality and that the fullness of truth lies beyond our limited vision (see the “Cave Allegory”).
That passage has been on my mind all week as I’ve tried to sort through the news and conversations around me. As is often the case, more than a few friends have shared deep anxieties about the state of our world. In that sense, the readings for Pentecost 25 feel remarkably timely. This week, I’ll be spending some extra time with Psalm 90 and its relevance for our time. Take a deep breath, slow down for a moment, and listen for the wisdom that comes from the Psalmist — a “wise heart” (Psalm 90:12).
As always, thank you for spending time with the lectionary readings this week.
Readings for Pentecost 25
Luther and the lectio divina
Luther’s approach to lectio divina begins with the Augustinian conviction that Scripture is understood through the Holy Spirit and received in humble prayer. While the monastic tradition described four movements of reading, meditation, prayer, and contemplation, Luther reshaped the practice around oratio (prayer), meditatio (meditation), and tentatio (spiritual struggle). Rather than seeking contemplative ascent, Luther saw the Christian life as a cross-shaped encounter in which God’s Word meets us amid trial, testing, and weakness, forming faith through the struggle.
Zephaniah 1:7, 12-18
Psalm 90: 1-12
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
Matthew 25:14-30
Readings are Linked
Image of the Week
German Romantic painter Caspar David Friedrich (1774-1840) was known for placing solitary figures within vast landscapes, using nature to explore themes of faith, mortality, and humanity’s relationship to God. In Monk by the Sea (1808-1810), a lone monk stands on a barren shoreline beneath an immense sky, dwarfed by the sea and the horizon stretching beyond sight. The painting conveys both awe and vulnerability, reminding viewers how small we are in the face of realities greater than ourselves.
That perspective echoes Zephaniah 1:7, 12-18, where the prophet strips away every illusion of human self-sufficiency. Wealth, power, and complacency offer no shelter on the coming “day of the Lord.” Like Friedrich’s monk, we stand before a reality we cannot control, humbled before the God whose purposes extend far beyond the limits of our vision and understanding.
Five-Minute Homily: Pentecost 25
Title: A Wise Heart for Troubled Times
Photo taken 9 April 1865
Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States, guided the nation through one of the most turbulent chapters in its history. Like all historical figures, he defies easy categories. The same leader who helped bring slavery to an end also advanced policies that inflicted hardship and displacement on Indigenous peoples.
In October 1863, with the Civil War still raging and the nation’s future far from certain, Lincoln proclaimed a national day of Thanksgiving. Just 47 days later, he walked onto the hallowed ground of Gettysburg and delivered a speech that lasted barely three minutes but echoed across generations, redefining the meaning of the war and the American experiment itself.
What intrigues me most about Lincoln, however, is his humility. In his Thanksgiving Proclamation, he invited Americans not only to give thanks but also to confess. Amid a devastating civil war, he called for “humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience.” He urged the country to remember widows and orphans, mourners and wounded soldiers, and to pray that God would bind up the nation’s wounds. Imagine a president speaking that way today.
Lincoln understood that gratitude and repentance belong together. Thanksgiving, in his view, was more than a holiday. It was an opportunity for self-examination. The nation could not celebrate its blessings while ignoring its failures. Healing required honesty. Unity required humility. Whatever mysteries surround Lincoln’s personal faith, one thing is clear: he knew the Bible deeply. The pattern he invoked was an ancient one. In moments of defeat, exile, and national crisis, Israel gathered before God in lament. The people named their sins, sought mercy, and entrusted their future to a grace greater than themselves.
Psalm 90 reflects that tradition. It is a sobering prayer, mindful of life’s fragility and humanity’s limitations. Yet it is also a prayer of hope. In the midst of uncertainty, the psalmist asks God to “teach us to number our days that we may gain a wise heart.” According to my Lutheran Study Bible, this is the only place in Scripture where the phrase “wise heart” appears. That strikes me as a prayer worth carrying into our own moment. We are quick to ask God for answers, certainty, and victory. Perhaps we should also ask for wisdom. In a time marked by conflict, division, and anxiety, a wise heart may be one of God’s greatest gifts.
Soli Deo Gloria!
Musical Reflection: Goin’ Home
Many people recognize “Goin’ Home” as a song often heard at funerals and memorial services, but its roots lie in the Largo from Antonín Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9, “From the New World,” premiered in 1893. While living in America, Dvořák was deeply influenced by the sounds of the New World, particularly African American spirituals, yet he also carried a profound longing for his native Bohemia. The result is a melody that seems to hold both wonder and homesickness, discovery and remembrance. The familiar lyrics came later, added by his student William Arms Fisher, but together the music and words give voice to a longing that is ultimately universal: the desire to come home.
That theme pairs beautifully with this week’s Psalm. Psalm 90 reminds us that our days are brief and generations pass, yet “the Lord has been our dwelling place in all generations.” In that light, “Goin’ Home” serves as more than a song about life’s end. It is a musical reflection on the deepest hope of faith: that through all the changing seasons of life, our true home remains in God.
VOCES8 is a British vocal ensemble known for its beautiful blend, musical precision, and remarkable versatility. Performing everything from Renaissance choral music to contemporary works and popular arrangements, the group has earned an international reputation for making great vocal music both accessible and inspiring. Their recordings and performances are marked by warmth, artistry, and a deep commitment to the joy of singing.
Psalm 90: 1-12
1 Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. 2 Before the mountains were brought forth or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. 3 You turn us back to dust and say, “Turn back, you mortals.” 4 For a thousand years in your sight are like yesterday when it is past or like a watch in the night. 5 You sweep them away; they are like a dream, like grass that is renewed in the morning; 6 in the morning it flourishes and is renewed; in the evening it fades and withers. 7 For we are consumed by your anger; by your wrath we are overwhelmed. 8 You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your countenance. 9 For all our days pass away under your wrath; our years come to an end like a sigh. 10 The days of our life are seventy years or perhaps eighty, if we are strong; even then their span is only toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away. 11 Who considers the power of your anger? Your wrath is as great as the fear that is due you. 12 So teach us to count our days that we may gain a wise heart.
Goin’ Home
Goin’ home. Goin’ home. I’m a-goin’ home.
Quiet-like some still day, I’m just goin’ home.
It’s not far, just close by, through an open door.
Work all done, cares laid by, goin’ to roam no more;
Mother’s there ‘xpecting me, father’s waiting, too,
Lots of folks gathered there, all the friends I knew.
Morning star lights the way, restless dream all done.
Shadows gone, break of day, real life just begun.
There’s no break, there’s no end, just a-living on;
Wide awake, with a smile, going on and on.
Going home. Going home, I’m just going home.
It’s not far, just close by, through an open door.
Who Are We Commemorating This Week?
Note: The ELCA commemorates a wide range of Christians throughout the year as a way of remembering that God has worked through ordinary people in every age. These commemorations — drawn from Scripture, the early church, the Reformation, and more recent history — invite us to see faith lived out in many different vocations and cultures. They aren’t about elevating “heroes,” but about widening our sense of the communion of saints and letting their witness encourage our own. In marking these days, the church pauses to give thanks, to learn, and to be reminded that the Holy Spirit continues to shape faithful lives in every generation.
We have one commemoration on this week’s calendar. You will find the full listing of them in the front of the ELW.
Week of 9 November
Wednesday 11 November
Martin, Bishop of Tours (d.397)
Martin of Tours (c. 316-397) was a Roman soldier who became a Christian, later serving as bishop of Tours in present-day France. He is best remembered for an act of compassion early in life when, according to tradition, he cut his military cloak in half to share with a freezing beggar, only to see Christ wearing the cloak in a dream that night. Revered as a saint by the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, and Lutheran traditions, Martin was honored not because of martyrdom but because of his deep faith, pastoral leadership, missionary work, and care for the poor. His feast day, November 11, was widely celebrated throughout medieval Europe. Martin Luther himself was named after St. Martin of Tours, having been baptized on November 11, 1483, the saint’s feast day, after being born the previous evening.
Going Beyond
Faithful Conversations:
“Luther’s Living Legacy”
Faithful Conversations — adult study at ELC — meets each Sunday from 11:00-11:45 in the church sanctuary. We are in the midst of two-part exploration of Martin Luther — we had our first session on 1 November.
Session 2 will be Sunday 15 November.
All Are Welcome!
The Pour-Over News App
The Pour Over is a Christian news resource designed for people who want to stay informed without becoming consumed by the endless cycle of political conflict and outrage. Each edition offers a concise overview of important news stories, followed by a brief biblical perspective that encourages readers to respond with faith, wisdom, and hope. While striving to remain politically neutral, its deeper purpose is to help Christians engage the world thoughtfully while keeping their eyes fixed on Christ. Content is available on the web, through email subscriptions, podcasts, and a convenient smartphone app.