Today's Reading: Introit for the Second Sunday after the Epiphany

Daily Lectionary: Ezekiel 36:33-37:14; Romans 5:1-21

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight,

 O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.

The heavens declare the glory of God,

 and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.

Day to day pours out speech,

 and night to night reveals knowledge.

There is no speech, nor are there words,

 whose voice is not heard.

Their measuring line goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.

 In them he has set a tent for the sun.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son

 and to the Holy Spirit;

as it was in the beginning,

 is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight,

 O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.  (The Introit for the Second Sunday of Epiphany, Psalm 19:1-4, 14)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Text of the Reflection. In Psalm 19, David and the Church pray that God would let the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in the sight of God.  That’s in Psalm 19:14, but earlier in the same psalm, all the talking isn’t done by you or by David.  The heavens declare God’s glory.  In the daytime, speech pours out.  All creation does the talking, from the sky and the sun.  After that comes God’s law and testimony and precepts.  There is nothing in all creation that isn’t made by God.

That includes you.  You have been made in the image of God, not merely because God breathed the breath of life into Adam’s nostrils, but because the crucified and risen Jesus breathed the breath of the new life of forgiveness into His disciples and into you.  The words of your mouth and the meditation of your heart are acceptable to God, not because you’re alive but because you have been recreated and restored from sinfulness. The image of God was lost when Adam and Eve fell, but you are in the image of God because Jesus has restored the image of God for you.  When you were an enemy of God, Christ Jesus died for you.  Jesus’ act of righteousness in death and resurrection rescues you from death and condemnation and makes you alive again.  

Now, your mouth opens and your lips declare the praises of God who has called you from darkness into His marvelous light.  You join all creation, not because you want to, but because Jesus has died and risen for you and you have eternal life in Christ Jesus your Lord.  In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

From all that dwell below the skies  Let the Creator’s praise arise;  Alleluia, alleluia  Let the Redeemer’s name be sung Through ev’ry land by ev’ry tongue.  Alleluia, alleluia!  Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! (Lutheran Service Book 816, stanza 1)

-Pastor Peter W. Ill is Pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church, Millstadt, Illinois.

.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Patrick Sturdivant, Development and Marketing Executive at Higher Things.

Study Christ's words on the cross to see how you can show more Christlike grace in your life. Perfect for group or individual study, each chapter has a Q&A at the end, and the back of the book includes a leader guide. Available now from Concordia Publishing House.