Come, Holy Spirit! Ancient Prayer #11
Come, Holy Spirit! Ancient Prayer #11.
THE HOLY SPIRIT: The Spirit of Glory; the Presence of God appearing in Shekinah glory through light, fire, and luminous cloud; God’s divine Presence on earth; the eternal life-giving Third Person of the Holy Trinity; the intimate bond of divine love and truth shared by God the Father and God the Son; the dynamic power of God offered to every human being on earth; the supernatural Presence in the Community of God who is personal without being material; the invisible creative force with divine intelligence who truly knows the mind of God from the inside; the Spirit of God who thus has all knowledge and is present everywhere in the universe; the sacred energy streaming forth from the Father and the Son, pouring love into our hearts (Romans 5:5), producing virtuous qualities in us (Galatians 5:22-23), and gradually transforming each believer into the image of Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18).
“Come, Holy Spirit Lord and God,
Fill full with Your own gracious good
The faithful ones’ heart, mind, desire;
Inflame in them Your love, O Fire!
The light You bring, O Spirit, Lord,
Gathers now in one accord
Folk from every land and tongue;
Your praise, O God, by all is sung.
O holy Light, safe rest from strife,
Shape us by the Word of Life;
Teach us to know our God aright
And call him Father with delight.
Guard us, Lord, against false creed,
Nor let us other masters heed,
But cling in faith to Jesus only,
And Him with all our might trust wholly.”
(from medieval hymn by Martin Luther, 15th century)