The Second Sunday after Epiphany (Ps) January 19th

Psalm 91:1-16

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High

will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

²    I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,

my God, in whom I trust.”

³    For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler

and from the deadly pestilence.

⁴    He will cover you with his pinions,

and under his wings you will find refuge;

his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.

⁵    You will not fear the terror of the night,

nor the arrow that flies by day,

⁶    nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness,

nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.

⁷    A thousand may fall at your side,

ten thousand at your right hand,

but it will not come near you.

⁸    You will only look with your eyes

and see the recompense of the wicked.

⁹    Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place—

the Most High, who is my refuge—

¹⁰    no evil shall be allowed to befall you,

no plague come near your tent.

¹¹    For he will command his angels concerning you

to guard you in all your ways.

¹²    On their hands they will bear you up,

lest you strike your foot against a stone.

¹³    You will tread on the lion and the adder;

the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.

¹⁴    “Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him;

I will protect him, because he knows my name.

¹⁵    When he calls to me, I will answer him;

I will be with him in trouble;

I will rescue him and honor him.

¹⁶    With long life I will satisfy him

and show him my salvation.”

I believe in the Holy Spirit, one holy Christian church, the community of the saints, forgiveness of sins, resurrection of the flesh, and eternal life. Amen.

What is this? Answer:

I believe that by my own understanding or strength I cannot believe in Jesus Christ my Lord or come to him, but instead the Holy Spirit has called me through the gospel, enlightened me with his gifts, made me holy and kept me in the true faith, just as he calls, gathers, enlightens, and makes holy the whole Christian church on earth and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one common, true faith. Daily in this Christian church the Holy Spirit abundantly forgives all sins—mine and those of all believers. On the Last Day the Holy Spirit will raise me and all the dead and will give to me and all believers in Christ eternal life. This is most certainly true.

Lord Jesus, when Peter fell before You in repentance as a sinful man, You absolved him of his sins by saying to him, “Fear not”; for by Your grace, he was worthy to stand in Your presence.  Send us out like Peter to catch men alive, announcing to the world the forgiveness of sins that comes through You, our only Savior and Lord; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, on God now and forever. Amen.(TDP1013)