Holy Spirit, Truth Divine, ELW 398 & LBW 257
1 Holy Spirit, truth divine,
Dawn upon this soul of mine;
Word of God and inward light,
Wake my spirit, clear my sight.
2 Holy Spirit, love divine,
Glow within this heart of mine;
Kindle ev'ry high desire;
Purge me with your holy fire.
3 Holy Spirit, pow'r divine,
Fortify this will of mine;
By your will I strongly live,
Bravely bear, and nobly strive.
4 Holy Spirit, peace divine,
Still this restless heart of mine;
Speak to calm this tossing sea,
Stayed in your tranquility.
5 Holy Spirit, right divine,
King within my conscience reign;
Be my guide, and I shall be
Firmly bound, forever free.
Fortify this will of mine;
By your will I strongly live,
Bravely bear, and nobly strive.
Devotion
Recently a friend of mine was considering the difference between revelation and enlightenment. Both words have strong associations with particular religious practices. That aside, how do the words feel? Is one more an active telling while the other more a gentle unfolding? It probably depends on the context, but both words feel related to an important word in our hymn: “dawn.” Holy Spirit, truth divine, dawn upon this soul of mine… Samuel Longfellow does not ask for the noonday sun or the long day of summer solstice. He asks for the dawn, a gentleness that slowly penetrates the dark of night. Like the presence of God in silence for Elijah. Like a baby born to a young girl in a small stable in the midst of a blustery adult world. Like patience. Like a word of forgiveness in the stormy ocean of revenge. Dawn.
Prayer
Holy Spirit, teach us in your church gentleness and patience with your work among us. Amen.