“O Spirit of the Living God” (LBW 388)
Devotion
O Spirit of the living God,
in all the fullness of your grace,
wherever human feet have trod,
descend on our apostate race.
Give tongues of fire and hearts of love
to preach the reconciling Word;
give pow'r and unction from above,
where’er this blessed sound is heard.
Be darkness, at your coming, light;
confusion, order in your path;
souls without strength inspire with might;
let mercy triumph over wrath.
O Spirit of the Lord, prepare
a sinful world its God to meet;
and breathe abroad like morning air,
till hearts of stone begin to beat.
Proclaim the gospel far and wide;
the triumphs of the cross record;
the name of Christ be glorified;
let ev'ry people call him Lord!
The Day of Pentecost often gets lost in the midst of spring celebrations and graduations. In a world that seems to seek power in absolutes, on Pentecost we celebrate the Holy Spirit as one who is more fluid, blowing where she wills and burning in hearts touched by a living and dynamic God. Luther wrote, "I believe that by my own understanding I cannot believe in Jesus Christ my Lord or come to him, but instead the Holy Spirit has called me through the gospel [and] enlightened me with his gifts. . ." The hymn for today gives us focus for this day of Pentecost. It is a day that reminds us of God's grace in Jesus. The hymn has great phrases as to what that means: mercy triumphs over wrath, hearts of stone begin to beat, those without strength are inspired with might, darkness is given light and confusion changes to order. God's breath is still the morning air.
Prayer
Breathe on us breath of God, fill us with life anew. Amen.