Come Life-Giver

We believe in the Spirit, the Holy, the Lordly, the Life-giving One...
Jaroslav Pelikan (Credo)

Technically the phrasing of our version of the Creed (an accepted ecumenical version) is a good one. But I really like Pelikan's translation in that it calls my attention to these initial attributes that the bishops in Constantinople wanted to immediately identify with the Spirit.

In our Spiritual Formation Class this past Wednesday we considered the Holy Spirit principally as the Life-giver. And saw his role in giving new life to God's new creation, his critical role in God's "restoration project" - even as he hovered over creation and made the first man a "living creature." It was the Holy Spirit who was present, overshadowing Mary, as she conceived the son of God, the second Adam. it was the Holy Spirit who came down out of heaven affirming Jesus as the son of God and empowering him for his ministry - which is a picture for the evangelists of what God is doing and saying at our baptism.

In Romans 1 we read that Messiah Jesus was "declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead". It was the Holy Spirit whom Jesus breathed into the apostles on the evening of his resurrection. It was the Holy Spirit whom Jesus poured out on his disciples on Pentecost; and the Holy Spirit who baptizes us into Christ body (1 Cor 12:13). It is the Holy Spirit who is the spirit of adoption stirring us to cry "Daddy, Father" as children of God (Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:6). It is the Holy Spirit who is working not only our sanctification, but also our glorification (Romans 8:17, 30).

And he is the one who brings into life "one, holy, catholic and apostolic church" - who sustains it, directs it, empowers it, unites it, leads it into all truth...

God is restoring all things to unity in Jesus his Son. He is doing it by the ministry of the Life-giver, the one who not only gives us every breath but the one who makes us alive to God. And the one who makes us together the dwelling place of God, and who is the very presence of God in our midst working in us and through us as the Body of Christ.

Though he is one who always points to Jesus and the Father, we do worship and glorify him. Blessing and honor to you, Holy Spirit. Thank you for all you've done and for all you're doing. Thank you for life and new life in God. Come among us in greater power. Come and lead us into truth. Come and make us one.
Amen.