Prayer and Meditation: Pentecost

Various | 6/3/06 | Knitting a Conundrum

[Knitting A Conundrum]

 

Pentecost

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.  And suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven.  And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in his own  language.

And they were amazed and wondered, saying, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans?  And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language?  Par'thians and Medes and E'lamites and residents of Mesopota'mia, Judea and Cappado'cia, Pontus and Asia,  Phryg'ia and Pamphyl'ia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyre'ne, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,  Cretans and Arabians, we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God."

And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "What does this mean?"

But others mocking said, "They are filled with new wine."

But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them, "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day; but this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

 `And in the last days it shall be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams; 
yea, and on my menservants and my maidservants in those days
I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy. 
And I will show wonders in the heaven above
and signs on the earth beneath,
blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; 
the sun shall be turned into darkness
and the moon into blood,
before the day of the Lord comes, the great and manifest day. 
And it shall be that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.'

"Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs which God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know -- this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.  But God raised him up, having loosed the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.  For David says concerning him,

`I saw the Lord always before me,
for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken; 
therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced;
moreover my flesh will dwell in hope. 
For thou wilt not abandon my soul to Hades,
nor let thy Holy One see corruption. 
Thou hast made known to me the ways of life;
thou wilt make me full of gladness with thy presence.'

"Brethren, I may say to you confidently of the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.  Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants upon his throne,  he foresaw and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption.

"This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses.

"Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this which you see and hear.  For David did not ascend into the heavens; but he himself says, `The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand,
till I make thy enemies a stool for thy feet.'

"Let all the house of Israel therefore know assuredly that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified."

Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brethren, what shall we do?"

And Peter said to them, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children and to all that are far off, every one whom the Lord our God calls to him."

And he testified with many other words and exhorted them, saying, "Save yourselves from this crooked generation."

So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. 

 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.  And fear came upon every soul; and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.  And all who believed were together and had all things in common;  and they sold their possessions and goods and distributed them to all, as any had need.

And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they partook of food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Acts 2, RSV


Almighty and ever-living God, you fulfilled the Easter promise by sending us your Holy Spirit. May that Spirit unite the races and nations on earth to proclaim your glory. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen

[Salvation]

The Golden Sequence

The Golden Sequence

 

After the Gradual of the Mass the ancient sequence Veni Sancte Spiritus (Come, Holy Spirit) is recited or sung on each day of Pentecost week. This hymn appeared first in liturgical books around the year 1200. It has been variously ascribed to Pope Innocent III (1216), to King Robert of France (1031), and even to Saint Gregory the Great (604). Most probably, however, its author was Cardinal Stephen Langton (1128), Archbishop of Canterbury. The poem has been known from medieval times as the "Golden Sequence" because of its richness in thought and expression. Each one of the short stanzas is a sentence in itself, thus facilitating meditation.

Come, holy Ghost, and bring from above
The splendor of thy light.

Come, father of the poor, come, giver of graces,
Come, light of our hearts.

Best of consolers, sweet guest of the soul,
And comfort of the weary.

Thou rest in labor, relief in burning toil,
Consoling us in sorrow.

O blessed light, fill the innermost hearts
Of those who trust in thee.

Without thy indwelling there is nothing in man,²⁴
And nothing free of sin.

Cleanse what is sordid, give water in dryness,
And heal the bleeding wounds.

Bend what is proud, make warm what is cold,
Bring back the wayward soul.

Give to the faithful who trustingly beg thee
Thy seven holy gifts.

Grant virtue's reward, salvation in death,
And everlasting joy. Amen. Alleluia.

Endnote

24. The original poem had Sine tuo numine nihil est in lumine. The last word was later changed into homine, thus spoiling the rhyme and weakening the powerful meaning of the original.

[Knitting A Conundrum]

Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God ever says "Jesus be cursed!" and no one can say "Jesus is Lord" except by the Holy Spirit.

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of working, but it is the same God who inspires them all in every one.

To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

I Corinthians 12: 3-7

[Knitting A Conundrum]

Holy Spirit of light and love, you are the substantial love of the Father and the Son; hear my prayer. Bounteous bestower of most precious gifts, grant me a strong and living faith which makes me accept all revealed truths and shape my conduct in accord with them. Give me a most confident hope in all divine promises which prompts me to abandon myself unreservedly to you and your guidance. Infuse into me a love of perfect goodwill, and act according to God's least desires. Make me love not only my friends but my enemies as well, in imitation of Jesus Christ who through you offered himself on the Cross for all people. Holy Spirit, animate, inspire, and guide me, and help me to be always a true follower of you. Amen.

[Knitting A Conundrum]

O Fire! O Light! O God!

What words do I have
to talk about you,
O living fire,
dancing flame within my heart,
dancing light
filling the spaces
between spaces.

You are the light
echoing in the angst of a father
whose child has turned her back
for sins of the past,
unknown,
unexpressed.

Fire shining in the heart
filled with grief,
cradling the body
of a beloved
never more to walk,
growing cold.

Light shining out in the joy
of children playing
on a spring afternoon.

Fire in the promise
of love pledged
between two chosing to become one.

Light in the hands
twisted with age,
clasping prayer beads,
letting them slip,
one after another,
as a heart
reaching out
to the infinity
that is you.

O God!
each breath we take,
breathing in the breath you give,
spirit,
holy wind,
Ruach.

In you we live,
and breathe
and have our being,
You, the living flame,
unseen perhaps,
but not unfelt.

Dance in my heart,
O light,
o living flame of love,
and quicken
each breathe I take,
for good or ill,
until
you are the light I see
shining in the heart of sorrow,
you are the voice I hear
calling out in need,
you are the smile I see
in the eyes of the hope filled,
yours is the cry I hear
in the voice of the child.

[Knitting A Conundrum]

Holy Spirit, divine Consoler, I adore You as my true God, with God the Father and God the Son. I adore You and unite myself to the adoration You receive from the angels and saints.

I give You my heart and I offer my ardent thanksgiving for all the grace which You never cease to bestow on me.

O Giver of all supernatural gifts, who filled the soul of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, with such immense favors, I beg You to visit me with Your grace and Your love and to grant me the gift of holy fear, so that it may act on me as a check to prevent me from falling back into my past sins, for which I beg pardon.

Grant me the gift of piety, so that I may serve You for the future with increased fervor, follow with more promptness Your holy inspirations, and observe your divine precepts with greater fidelity.

Grant me the gift of knowledge, so that I may know the things of God and, enlightened by Your holy teaching, may walk, without deviation, in the path of eternal salvation.

Grant me the gift of fortitude, so that I may overcome courageously all the assaults of the devil, and all the dangers of this world which threaten the salvation of my soul.

Grant me the gift of counsel, so that I may choose what is more conducive to my spiritual advancement and may discover the wiles and snares of the tempter.

Grant me the gift of understanding, so that I may apprehend the divine mysteries and by contemplation of heavenly things detach my thoughts and affections from the vain things of this miserable world.

Grant me the gift of wisdom, so that I may rightly direct all my actions, referring them to God as my last end; so that, having loved Him and served Him in this life, I may have the happiness of possessing Him eternally in the next.

Amen.

St. Alphonsus Liguori

[Alamo-Girl]

Thank you for this beautiful meditation!