The First Sunday after Christmas (Ps) December 29th

Psalm 111:1-10

Praise the Lord!

       I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart,

in the company of the upright, in the congregation.

²    Great are the works of the Lord,

studied by all who delight in them.

³    Full of splendor and majesty is his work,

and his righteousness endures forever.

⁴    He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered;

the Lord is gracious and merciful.

⁵    He provides food for those who fear him;

he remembers his covenant forever.

⁶    He has shown his people the power of his works,

in giving them the inheritance of the nations.

⁷    The works of his hands are faithful and just;

all his precepts are trustworthy;

⁸    they are established forever and ever,

to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.

⁹    He sent redemption to his people;

he has commanded his covenant forever.

Holy and awesome is his name!

¹⁰    The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;

all those who practice it have a good understanding.

His praise endures forever!

What then is the significance of such a baptism with water? Answer:

It signifies that the old creature in us with all sins and evil desires is to be drowned and die through daily contrition and repentance,⁸² and on the other hand that daily a new person is to come forth and rise up to live before God in righteousness and purity forever.

Where is this written? Answer:

St. Paul says in Romans 6[:4*], “We were buried with Christ through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we, too, are to walk in a new life.”

O God, our Maker and Redeemer, You wonderfully created us and in the incarnation of Your Son yet more wondrously restored our human nature.  Grant that we may ever be alive in Him who made Himself to be like us; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (L09)