"Come Down, O Love Divine"

We sang this in church today. I see that I posted this hymn last year, but this being Pentecost Sunday, I will post it yet again. I loved singing the alto part today. There's something about the music of Ralph Vaughn Williams that always gets to me.

As I reflect over the past year, I see the events that have shaped me: our son's hospitalization and recovery from a broken leg, persecution from some family members, my mother's near death experience, and our daughter's grief over adoption/loss issues. Whew! What a year it's been! I have been sustained by the Holy Spirit, Who prayed for me when I could only groan. Praise God for His infinite mercy!

"Come Down, O Love Divine"

Come down, O love divine,
seek thou this soul of mine,
and visit it with thine own ardor glowing;
O Comforter, draw near,
within my heart appear,
and kindle it, thy holy flame bestowing.

O let it freely burn,
till earthly passions turn
to dust and ashes in its heat consuming;
and let thy glorious light
shine ever on my sight,
and clothe me round, the while my path illuming.

Let holy charity
mine outward vesture be,
and lowliness become mine inner clothing;
true lowliness of heart,
which takes the humbler part,
and o'er its own shortcomings weeps with loathing.

And so the yearning strong,
with which the soul will long,
shall far outpass the power of human telling;
for none can guess its grace,
till Love create a place
wherein the Holy Spirit makes a dwelling.