Genesis: 4: 26 And to Seth, to him also a son was born; and he called his nave Enosh. Then men began to call upon the name of the Lord. --NASB
In the name of the One Who hears our prayers, amen.
Exaudi is the first word of Sunday's introit, "Hear O Lord." This week we focus on the Holy Ministry through which God answers our deepest prayers--the prayers of repentance. In the passage above we see that when human beings began to populate the earth, a need arose. From the previous passages we see that evil was also spreading, and so there was a need for men to preach or "Call in the name of the Lord." For some odd reason translators insist on translating this, and passages like it, "Call on the name of the Lord." But the same word translated "on," also means "in." Cain and Abel had already been calling on the name of the Lord, so that would not be new. Rather men were now calling in the name of the Lord, or preaching.
The massage then was no different than the massage today, just as the need is no different today than it was then. They proclaimed salvation in the name of the promised seed to sinful human beings. Often times we forget that "Thy kingdom come" includes the preaching of the Word. So, as we ask God to hear us when we call out of the depth of repentance, we should remember that the Lord answers us through those who preach the Word. Those who preach do so because there is a need. May there always be someone to proclaim the Word of God to you when you are in need. Amen.
Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of those who proclaim your holy Word. Forgive us for the times when we have not heard their voice. Help us all to proclaim your word so that all those whom you have chosen from eternity come to faith in the promised seed of the woman. We ask this in the name of the promised seed, our dear Lord Jesus Christ, amen.