The Fourth Sunday of Easter (Ps) May 11th

Psalm 23:1-6

¹  The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

²        He makes me lie down in green pastures.

       He leads me beside still waters.

³        He restores my soul.

       He leads me in paths of righteousness

for his name’s sake.

⁴    Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil,

       for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me.

⁵    You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies;

       you anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

⁶    Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

all the days of my life,

       and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord

forever.

The Second Article: Redemption

And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.

What does this mean?

I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary, is my Lord. Who has redeemed me, a lost and condemned person, purchased and won me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil; not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death, that I may be His own and live under Him in His kingdom and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, just as He is risen from the dead, lives and reigns to all eternity. This is most certainly true.

Almighty God, merciful Father, since You have wakened from death the Shepherd of Your Sheep, grant us Your Holy Spirit that when we hear the voice of our Shepherd we may know him who calls us each by name and follow where He leads; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.