Monday was the 40th anniversary of my ordination at Ascension Lutheran Church in Chicago. During the service we sang the 1200-year-old hymn traditionally used at ordinations:
 

Come, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire

and lighten with celestial fire;

thou the anointing Spirit art,

who dost thy seven-fold gifts impart.

Thy blessed unction from above

is comfort, life, and fire of love;

enable with perpetual light

the dullness of our mortal sight.

I love this rarely sung hymn. It is a prayer asking for the inspiration of the Holy Spirit so that we might receive the gifts of comfort, life, and love. What tremendous gifts those are, yet we so seldom think about the work of the Holy Spirit or give thanks for his blessings.

At a meeting last year ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton asked the assembled rostered ministers what Luther’s explanation to the Third Article of the Apostles’ Creed was. To her surprise and delight the gathering responded: “I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to him. But the Holy Spirit has called me through the Gospel, enlightened me with his gifts, and sanctified and preserved me in true faith.” We cannot come to faith in Jesus except by the action of the Holy Spirit. Our mortal sight can’t perceive the work of God in creation or the redemptive act of Christ without the gift of the Holy Spirit. It’s never first about us, but always first about the action of God. How amazing that we should be given the gift of the Holy Spirit. Thank you for this most precious grace.

Read 1 Corinthians 12:3 and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.

Wayne