The Second Sunday after Christmas (Ps) January 5th

Psalm 11:1-7

¹  In the Lord I take refuge;

       how can you say to my soul,

“Flee like a bird to your mountain,

²    for behold, the wicked bend the bow;

they have fitted their arrow to the string

to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart;

³    if the foundations are destroyed,

what can the righteous do?”

⁴    The Lord is in his holy temple;

the Lord’s throne is in heaven;

his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of man.

⁵    The Lord tests the righteous,

but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.

⁶    Let him rain coals on the wicked;

fire and sulfur and a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup.

⁷    For the Lord is righteous;

       he loves righteous deeds;

the upright shall behold his face.

What is baptism? Answer:

Baptism is not simply plain water. Instead it is water enclosed in God’s command and connected with God’s Word.

What then is this Word of God? Answer:

Where our Lord Christ says in Matthew 28[:19*], “Go into all the world, teach all nations,⁷⁸ and baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

Almighty God, You have poured into our hearts the true Light of Your incarnate Word.  Grant that this Light may shine forth in our lives; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives an reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.(L10)