Come down, O Love divine;
Seek thou this soul of mine
And visit it with thine own ardor glowing.
O Comforter, draw near;
Within my heart appear
and kindle it, thy holy flame bestowing.
Oh, let it freely burn,
Till worldly passions turn
To dust and ashes in its heat consuming.

A pastor once asked me where was my passion was. It wasn’t a question about emotions, but about what was really important to me. I think about that every time I sing Bianco da Siena’s hymn text “Come Down, O Love Divine.”  His passion is for the Holy Spirit to kindle the flame of ardor within himself. I try to imagine what is like to love God so much that the fire of the Spirit causes all worldly passions to turn to dust and ashes.

I like to think I love God, but I don’t think I have the passion for God that I should have. I’m not even sure I want to have the kind of passion that would turn all worldly desires to dust and ashes. All I can do is pray with my feeble love and ask God to give me the passion I need, even if I think I don’t want it. Come, Holy Spirit.

Read Romans 5:1-5, and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.

Wayne