Spirit . . .Spirit of God . . . Holy Spirit—today we celebrate the divine presence in our midst and within us: God's creative power—God's comforting love—God's encouraging advocate. How do we know God? We know God, because we know Jesus whose life, teachings, death and resurrection are reported in Holy Scripture. We also know God, because we experience the Holy Spirit. And yet our experience of the Holy Spirit can be so different from time to time and from person to person. Today let us meditate on how the God's Spirit has been present, is present, and will be present in us and in our world.
From the first chapter of Genesis: “. . . the earth was a formless void, and darkness covered the face of the deep, while the spirit of God swept over the water.”
From Psalm 104: “You send forth your Spirit and they are created; and so you renew the face of the earth.”
O, Holy Spirit, agent of creation, there has never been a time when you were absent. But sometimes we have not allowed ourselves to be open to your creative presence. Help us see your work in nature and participate in protecting the beauty you have given us.
From the first chapter of the Gospel of John: “And John [the Baptizer] testified, 'I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him [Jesus]. . . the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, “He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.” And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.'”
O, Holy Spirit, agent of revelation, there has never been a time when you were absent. Have we been paying attention? Help us open the eyes of our hearts to see the one whom God sent to be our Savior—his only begotten Son. So when we see Christ more clearly, we will love Christ more dearly.
From the second chapter of Acts: “And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the whole house where they [the disciples] were sitting. . . All of them were filled with the Holy Spirt and began speaking other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.”
O, Holy Spirit, agent of spiritual power, there has never been a time when you were absent. Have we been afraid to claim what you offer us? May we find the words we need to speak about our faith. For you will give us both flexibility and courage when we are called to defend the hope you have placed in our hearts.
From the twelfth chapter of Paul's first letter to the Corinthians: “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit, and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given a manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”
O, Holy Spirit, giver of all talents and abilities, there has never been a time when you were absent. How often do we fail to honor that which makes us special and also fail to respect gifts others have received. Transform our work for the church into work for your coming reign. For in that reign all will have a place—even those who seem to be sorely lacking in gifts. Indeed, God knows what each of has to offer and will accept it.
From the seventh chapter of the Gospel of John: [Jesus quoted this scripture]: “'Out of the believer's heart shall flow rivers of living water.' Now he said this about the Spirit, which believers in Him were to receive.”
O, Holy Spirit, creator of community who incorporates each of us into a new life in Christ, there has never been a time when you were absent. Have we simply forgotten the new life within us? Or have we made a built a moat to keep all that living water for ourselves? Remind us that this living water comes from you and flows out through our words and deeds to others. May we always be a smooth flowing channel for your living water, your love.
Nanette Sawyer, now a Presbyterian pastor and author, discovered at 37 she had not been baptized. She describes her baptism during which she knelt next to a small plastic pool and had water poured over head. The first splash of water for the Creator, the second splash for the Son. Then she said, “. . .the one splash for the Holy Spirit became a long pouring of water. It kept coming and coming, gushing over my face . . . I had not anticipated this moment. The Spirit became overwhelming and seemingly out of control . . . For a moment I wondered if I would inhale it accidentally. Would I drown here? A wave of fear passed through me . . .” Finally the pouring water stopped, and a towel placed around her absorbed the dripping water.
What came next surprised her even more. In her church after a person was baptized, if she was old enough she was supposed to sing “I have decided to follow Jesus.” In the emotion of the moment Nanette began to sing, but her voice broke and she began to cry. As she struggled, the congregation began to hum and then to sing the words for her.
She reflected on what happened, “They sang for me when I couldn't sing. They sang when I felt overwhelmed by my own smallness and the vastness of God. They sang when I felt daunted by the task of following Jesus. . . They sang while I healed, and after a while I could sing again. That is what we do for each other. That is what it means to be the body Christ and baptized into it by the Holy Spirit of a Creator God. We sing for each other.”[1]
O, Holy Spirit, there has never a time when you were absent. You are present today in each of us gathered here. You are present in those who are away today. You will be present in our lives, in the life of this community of St. Nicholas', and in all the world. Give us signs of your presence, both gentle and strong. May the gifts you have given each of us be honored and used for your glory. And may rivers of living water flow from our hearts to refresh and renew the place where we have been planted and the people who share our lives.
And let's also remember to sing for each other!
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