Pentecost Sunday, May 19, 2024
(click here to listen to or read today’s scriptures)
Veni, sancte, spiritus
I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now.
And then just a few days later, while with two of his friends on the road to Emmaus:
Beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he shared all the scriptures and how they pertained to himself. As they approached the village Jesus made as though he would continue, but they constrained him, saying, “Abide with us, for it is toward evening and the day is far spent.”
And so, he did.
But not for long.
There are times we, too, just want to walk on home, for a moment or an hour, a week or a day living more in the future than the present. My body calls out for rest. I’m sore, sick, my eyes see fuzzy and my ears hear barely. There is no particular plan to get this fixed, because my body is just wearing out. After all these years.
Though we don’t recognize him, Jesus walks with us along the road.
Margaret and I sang “Abide with Me” during our devotion yesterday. I didn’t realize how much it mirrored our occasional (or frequent) feelings of exhaustion, sadness and uncertainty.
Abide with me, fast falls the eventide
The darkness deepens, Lord, with me abide
When other helpers fail and comforts flee
Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me
Margaret asked,“What does “abide” even mean?” We thought together. Stay with me. Wait with me. Be with me.
Let me be. Comfort me beyond myself.
These are prayers to God. But we also sing to each other. There are the other folks in the country church congregation, singing along together. They mostly know the hard facts of each others’ lives. They might not be that great at looking into each other’s eyes, but they can sure make good casserole. A good hot dish fills up some of the empty places. (Skip the green peppers, please.)
Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day
Earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away
Change and decay in all around I see
O Thou who changest not, abide with me
Some of the folks in our small congregation have learned to listen. They watch with sympathetic eyes for someone else’s fear, or pain. They might come up and share a hug. Or a touch on the shoulder. “Tell me more,” they seem to say. Although I might mouth the old lie, “Oh, I’m just fine,” I might instead ask, “Abide with me.”
I need Thy presence every passing hour.
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s power?
Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.
This is Pentecost Sunday, fifty days from Easter, when the crowd of those not yet called Christians waited together as Jesus had told them to wait, and when their waiting was rewarded.
Suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each of them. And they were filled with the Holy Spirit.
We can’t help ourselves – we’re always getting ahead of God. But in his great compassion and love for us, the Holy Spirit holds us back. The Holy Spirit abides with us. The Holy Spirit whispers into our ears and we can wait again in peace.
Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies
Heaven’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee
In life, in death, o Lord, abide with me
Lately the song has planted popular roots. It’s sung at soccer matches. It reached #19 on a UK music chart (so sweet this story). In every case it’s meant to be a plea, a call for God to stay and never leave us.
The song’s author, Scottish preacher Henry Lyte, died early from tuberculosis. The song’s melody, composed by English organist William Monk, commemorated the death of his three year old daughter. Each day of life comes precious from God.
Each day.
Can I simply sing the song, and spend my time with Jesus on the road, around the table? Veni, sanctus, spiritus. Show me how, O Lord, day by day.
 Come, Holy Spirit.
When you send forth your Spirit, we are created, as you renew the face of the earth.
(Acts 2, Psalm 104, 1 Corinthians 12, Galatians 5, John 20)
(posted at www.davesandel.net)
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