Life, Yielded
We believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord and Giver of Life
– Nicene Creed
If I had to distill our diocesan gathering that took place last week into one word, it would be the word yield. Though a simple and small word, living a life yielded is almost, if not, impossible. For the action of yielding is not innate to the human heart. To yield is to lay down arms; it is to live life with hands open in a posture of receiving; it is for a life to be shaped by those words not my will, but Yours. Our hearts, left to themselves, seek after control. For control, we naively believe, will save us. If I am the captain of my soul (William Ernest Henley), then I must remain in control of my life at all times, handing over the reigns to none other than Self.
The narrative of Scripture, and the narrative of Society more generally, tells many tales of those who seek after control and attempt to wield it. We need only venture to the first few pages of Scripture to see how quickly all things turn to rot when humans seek after control and forego yielding. Of course we are not to yield simply to any one thing or person. Our yielding is to be offered up to the one who emptied himself and yielded to death (Phil 2); to him who yielded his will to the Father in Gethsemane (Matthew 26); to him who yielded up his very life as an offering on the cross (Luke 23). And, as this Jesus has ascended to his Father and our Father–thanks be to God!,–we in this world see him no longer as the first century followers did. Yet, he has given us a gift. The gift, who is the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life.
This Spirit is the third Person of the glorious Trinity, who is. And we, the people of God, are to be those in whom this Spirit dwells, that he might mature us, shaping and forming us into the image of the Son, that our lives might rejoice in truth, love, compassion, grace, and justice, for all such things are of God and flow from him. And it is the Spirit who leads us to find our peace, joy, and contentment in God himself. And this he will do, when we yield; when we stop wresting control; when we yield to His voice and cease making excuses or justifications. Excuse-making and justifying wrongdoing is the clambering for control. And our world is shot through with control's reek. But, the peaceableness of a yielded life, yielding to the Spirit, is a sweet fragrance. For the life lived by the Spirit, is a life lived in the sweetness of Christ. And that aroma will never tire, never fade, never dull, never grow stale.
Be the aroma of Christ, Friend, by yielding to the Spirit.
Grace & Peace,
– Matthew