Pentecost, the Sending of the Holy Spirit

When the Lord gave to the disciples power to confer rebirth into the life of God, he said: "Go, make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit".

He promised through his prophets that he would pour out this spirit in the last times on his servants and handmaidens so that they would prophesy. And so the Spirit came down on the Son of God, who became the Son of man, and with him became accustomed to dwell in the human race and to abide in God's creation, within men, working the Father's will among them and making their old natures new with the newness of Christ.

Luke says that at Pentecost, after the ascension of the Lord, the Spirit came down on the disciples with power to grant all nations entry into life, and to open the new testament. And so in every language they sang a hymn to God in unison; for the Spirit brought the scattered races together into a unity, and offered to the Father the first-fruits of all the nations.

Therefore the Lord promised to send us the Holy Spirit to make us fit for God's purposes. Just as dry flour cannot coalesce into a lump of dough, still less a loaf, without moisture, so we, who to begin with are dry wood, can never bear the fruit of life unless the rain from heaven falls upon our wills.

For our bodies through the water of baptism have received the unity which leads to freedom from corruption; but our souls have received it through the Spirit.

The Spirit of God came down on the Lord, "the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and devotion, the Spirit of fear of the Lord". He gave the same Spirit again to the Church, sending the Counselor to every nation from heaven, from which the Lord said "the devil was cast down like lightning". Accordingly we need God 's dew, so as not to be burnt up and made unfruitful but rather to have a Counselor when we have an accuser. For the Lord entrusts to the Holy Spirit his man who had fallen among thieves. Taking pity on him he has bound up his wounds, and given two imperial coins, stamped with the image of the Spirit and the inscription of the Father and the Son. We are to accept them, and make the coin entrusted to us bear fruit and multiply for the Lord.

Come O Spirit from on High
Shine upon our inward eye
Pierce the Blindness of our sight

Come O Father of the poor
Come with treasures which endure
Come O light of all that lives

Come Consoler, Spirit blessed
Troubled soul’s most welcomed guest
Sweet refreshment, sweet repose

Restful ease in toil and stress
Pleasant coolness in the heat
Consolation in our woes

Light of light in darkness shine
Flood our hearts with light Divine
Burn within us living Fire

If You do not light our way
All our steps will go astray
Sinful man with grace inspire

Heal our wounds, our strength renew
On our dryness pour your dew
Wash the stains of sin away

Bend the stubborn heart and will
Melt the frozen, warm the chill
Guide the steps that go astray

To your people teach your love
All our hope is from above
With your sevenfold gifts descend

Give us virtues sure reward
Give us your salvation Lord
Give us Joy that never ends.
Amen.
Alleluia