Psalm 104:24, 27–28, 30; —On the Day of Pentecost, we focus our
attention on the Holy Spirit and His role in establishing the Mission activity
of the Christian Church. The antiphon
read during the Introit on the Day of Pentecost is a portion of an ancient
prayer to the Holy Spirit: “Come, Holy
Spirit, fill the hearts of the faithful, and kindle in them the fire of Your
love.”
Psalm 104 is a hymn of praise
celebrating the wonders of God’s creation. But it is careful to direct our attention not
so much to the creation, but to the Creator. The Lord did not merely set the
world into motion and then take His hands off the wheel. He continues to
nurture and preserve all He has made. Luther in his Large Catechism explains, “He causes all created things to serve for
the use and necessities of life.” (LC II, 14) In the explanation to the
First Article of the Apostles’ Creed Luther simply explains, “I believe that God has made me and all
creatures; that He has given me my body and soul, eyes, ears, and all my
members, my reason and all my senses, and still takes care of them.”
All around us, seeds sown into
the ground just a few weeks will begin to sprout. We anticipate an
abundant harvest. The Lord’s abundant power of creation is seen each spring as
we witness life flourishing around us.
The Lord has promised to preserve and sustain the earth. “While the earth remains, seedtime and
harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.” - Genesis 8:22
There seems to always be a
guarantee in life that change will happen. Change is something we tend to fear
and become anxious about because we do not feel in control of life. The Psalmist assures us that the Lord is our
sure defense. As He preserves you He will safeguard your life even in these
unprecedented times.
The portion of the psalm used in the Introit proclaims that the Holy Spirit; whom, with the Father and the Son, was involved in the creation, especially of man, into whose nostrils God breathed the breath (Spirit) of life.
A Prayer for Agriculture: Almighty
God, You blessed the earth to make it fruitful, bringing forth in abundance
whatever is needed for the support of our lives. Prosper; we implore You, the
work of farmers, especially in this planting season. Grant them seasonable
weather that they may gather in the fruits of the earth and thus proclaim Your
goodness.[1]
[1]
Collect for Agriculture, Lutheran Service Book copyright © 2006 Concordia
Publishing House. St. Louis
Image Creation Day 7: lustration from a woodcut by Baron Julius Schnoor von Carolsfeld, 1794-1872, a distinguished German artist known especially for his book, DasThe Book of Books in Pictures. © WELS used by permission for personal and congregational use.
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