10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD,

My soul shall be joyful in my God;

For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation,

He has covered me with the robe of righteousness,

As a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments,

And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

11 For as the earth brings forth its bud,

As the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring

forth,

So the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring

forth before all the nations.

Yesterday, people in communities across the United States gathered to celebrate Martin Luther King Day. The life and work of this great man was given renewed life as his "FREE AT LAST" speech boomed over the loudspeakers in the way that tape recorders had captured Dr, King’s magnificent speaking voice. In most of the celebrations, the words of another speech, "WE SHALL OVERCOME," exploded from the voices of magnificent choirs and enthusiastic congregations. They celebrated the life of Dr. King and the freedom that they now know because of him and his work.

Now read again the verses of the text for today. Do you read anything there that you can rejoice in and get excited about celebrating? Have you ever thought about the fact that when we gather together on Sunday, we celebrate worship? It is in the celebration of Worship that we hear the speeches, of our Lord, read and sing the words and teachings of our Lord.

In your community, who gets the greatest celebration, Dr. King or Jesus?

In your life who gets the greatest celebration, your favorite hero, heroine or Jesus?

Let us celebrate, the life of Jesus, daily.

WE PRAY: Lord, sometimes we become so comfortable in our daily life that our need for the things that you have for us fade into the background. " As the earth brings forth its bud," and "As the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth," send Your Holy Spirit to nourish the seed planted in us in our Baptism that it may grow and flourish. AMEN

SUGGESTIONS FOR LIVING THE DEVOTION

When we celebrate an event in the life of a person, we usually also give a gift, send a card, or write a letter. For this day, week, or month, select a gift that you will give to God in honor of all that He has done for you.