Come, Holy Spirit Novena Day 1

Scripture:  “You did not choose me but I chose you.” (John 15:16)

Meditation: The Lord is the seeker of your heart. He desires you. Perhaps you are familiar with St. Augustine’s famous prayer, “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.” Although this prayer expresses a beautiful truth about us, I believe we can reverse it to express a beautiful truth about God: “You have made me for yourself, O Lord, and Your Heart is restless until it rests in me.” Is it right to consider God restless? There may be many connotations of the word “restless,” but here, by “restless heart” I mean a longing heart that is earnestly and constantly searching and thirsting for its beloved. 

Consider the parable of the lost sheep, or the parable of the lost coin, or the parable of the prodigal son. Does the shepherd of the lamb, or the woman who owns the coin, or the father of the prodigal son rest while his/her beloved is lost? No, each is searching until the beloved is found. Each of these characters expresses the truth about God’s constant search for you. Notice also, that in each of these parables, the seeker is looking for one beloved. There are not five lost sheep or three lost coins or two lost prodigal sons. Similarly, God does not just seek out the “human race” in general. He seeks individuals. He seeks you. God, the Creator of the Universe, made you for Himself, and His heart is restless until it rests in you. 

Prayer: O Father, sometimes it is hard for me to believe that you are searching for me and thirsting for me. It is hard for me to believe that I am that important to you. That you would love me and long for me seems almost too good to be true. Lord, increase my faith. Send your Holy Spirit to me. I want to know your longing for me.

Traditional prayer invoking the Holy Spirit: Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations, Through Christ Our Lord, Amen.

Meditation and first prayer by Clare Schiller