This coming Sunday is the Festival of Pentecost. It is
obvious that the theme is on the Spirit. In the Gospel lesson, John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15 the Spirit causes living water to flow from the
heart. The dead are made alive by the Spirit in the preaching of the Word in
the Old Testament lesson Ezekiel
37:1-14.
The disciples are emboldened by the Spirit to speak in languages which
foreigners could understand in the Epistle lesson Acts 2:1-21. In the Psalm Psalm139:1-16 there are references to the Spirit who creates and
renews creation. The hymn of the Day “Come, Holy Ghost, God and Lord” {LSB 497} is a prayer for the Spirit to
come upon the church.
Psalm104:24,
27-28, 30—The antiphon for the Introit for this coming Sunday;
the Feast Day of Pentecost is a liturgical text, “Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of the faithful, and kindle in them
the fire of Your love. Alleluia.”
The Psalmist refers back to the week of creation. When
He had finished all that He had made, not only was the Lord satisfied but it
was very good indeed. All that the Lord commands, creates, and sustains is very
good indeed. On the Feast Day of Pentecost we see that the Lord is serious
concerning His Word going out throughout the whole creation. Persons are
converted; believers are sustained and strengthened in the faith as the Lord
uses His Word for these purposes.
[1] The Holy Spirit in the form of a Dove, copyright © Ed Riojas, Higher Things
[2] Collect for Psalm 104, For All the Saints, A Prayer book for and by the church Vol. II , The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau © 1995 Delhi, NY
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