“Great and deep the Spirit’s purpose, making Jesus seen and heard.”
This is the start of verse 2 of one of the hymn’s we sang on Sunday. (Hymn 617 from CH4 written by Marnie Barrell)
I was very pleased to see it on the order of service because I really like to sing the tune, Lux Tremenda. A tune that is not often used and can be a bit tricky in parts. It is an uplifting sing especially when the organist gives it their all!
However this time, although I had a good sing, the words stood out with deeper meaning.
Verse 1 taking us from the mystery and joy of creation through the unfolding of God’s work down the ages to a reminder that we have hardly seen and can barely understand what God’s final purpose is.
Then verse 2 taking linking to the theme of our readings:
Firstly from Jeremiah ch 1 vs4 -10; a young man called to speak the word of God to his people and feeling too young and inexperienced but still a prophet who would take forward God’s work.
Followed by Luke ch13 and Jesus healing on the Sabbath, opening up a new understanding of God’s purpose to everyone.
“Great and deep the Spirit’s purpose, making Jesus seen and heard.
Every age of God’s creation grasps new meaning from the Word”
A knowledge of history and how thinking has evolved down the ages shows us how our understanding has changed, developed as we have learnt more about our world and how it works, enhancing and deepening our understanding of the Word of God, who was with God in the beginning and through whom all things came to be.
We too are prophets in our own time, in our own society and in our world, uncertain perhaps of our message, uneasy at showing it to others in actions and words, not sure where the future will take us but as verse 2 concludes,
“Show us, Holy Spirit, show us your new work begun today; eyes and ears and hearts are open, teach us what to do and say.”