The Christian Church - Synod of Saint Timothy

The Synod of Saint Timothy is a body of faithful Christians, seeking to minister to the world through the Sacramental life and fraternal love that was evident in the ancient Church, while always putting the saving grace of Christ's atoning sacrifice first in our minds. We welcome you to our online blog.

Thursday, May 19, 2005

A Prayer for Pentecost inspired by the Syriac Tradition

As we continue in this octave week of Pentecost, I came across a wonderful prayer for Pentecost in the Syriac tradition. I here present a redaction and some comments:

O Holy Father,
in the fullness of time, you sent us your only Son.
You gave us life through his death and resurrection
and filled us with the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of adoption,
through whom we call you “Our Father”.
On this feast of Pentecost,
in which we commemorate the descent of your Holy Spirit
upon his disciples in the Upper Room,
make us worthy to celebrate you with joy and holiness and fill us with your Holy Spirit.
We thank you, O Father, now and forever. Amen!

God has sent to us his only-begotten in this the end of the ages, at the time and in the way appointed and prophesied. In all this, the working of the Spirit has been known. It is the Spirit upon whom we call to pour out upon us the merits of Christ's death which lead to resurrection - this is our adoption, an adoption by grace into the family of God which allows us to call God not simply "Father" or "Our Father" but "Abba!". While Pentecost is the birthday of the Church and the commemoration of the descent of the Spirit, it is also a time of great celebration - a time to revel in the peace and joy of our salvation, and to recognize the indwelling of the Spirit in our lives.
Truly, with our Syrian brothers and sisters, we join in giving thanks to God for these great gifts, the gift of our redemption and sanctification, won for us through Christ, and proclaimed with joy by us, the adopted sons and daughters of God.

To God be glory forever!