Come Holy Spirit

This is my reflection on the second reading for this Sunday, Pentecost. This was sent out in our weekly e-ministry to the congregants of St. Timothy Lutheran Church. 

Second Reading: Romans 8:22-27

²²We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; ²³and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. ²⁴For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? ²⁵But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
 ²⁶Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. ²⁷And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

Pentecost is the 50^thday of Easter when we celebrate the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the disciples after Jesus returned to the Father. God did so much through these earlier followers of Jesus and those with whom they shared the faith. 

In a live version of Michael W. Smith’s “Breathe,” he repeatedly sings, “I’m hungry for you. I’m desperate for you.” Is that the cry of our hearts? Is our relationship with God the single most important and informative thing in our lives? Does it affect every aspect of our lives?

We struggle to be all God calls us to be. That is why Paul writes, “…the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words” (v. 26). We are unable to pray as we ought, so the Holy Spirit does the praying through and for us. Isn’t that amazing? God does through us what he wants us to do. 

On this Pentecost, I pray that the Holy Spirit will be poured out afresh on us all. However, we must be open to the sometimes disturbing and uncomfortable work of the Spirit. There is an old chorus that expresses what I hope is the desire of each of our hearts:

Holy Spirit, [you are] welcome in this place.

Holy Spirit, [you are] welcome in this place.

Omnipotent [power] of mercy and grace,

You are welcome in this place.

This “place” is not the geography of our building, but our hearts and minds as we gather together in Jesus’ name. 

Picture from Pixabay.com