Abba, Yeshua, Ruah is a choral piece I wrote for my diaconal ordination on September 24, 1994. Abba is Aramaic for Father, Yeshua is Aramaic for Jesus, and Ruah is Hebrew for Spirit. The recording is captured from the VHS tape from the ordination. This music is dedicated to Trish Flannigan, who was the administrative assistant/secretary for the Permanent Diaconate at the time I was in diaconal formation. Though never ordained, she remains the finest deacon of us all. The text for the music is below.
Abba, Abba,
May we be dwellings of your holy love,
The love which you grace all below, above.
May we be dwellings of your holy peace,
The peace for which all souls thirst and seek.
You loved so much that you sent your Son,
Only in you can we live as one.
Dwell in us Father, so that all may feel
The touch of your love and your peace-filled will.
Yeshua, Yeshua,
May we be servants of You, Holy Word,
Servants of you, compassionate Lord.
O may we seek you among the very least,
Inviting all to the Father’s feast.
You loved so much that you gave your life,
You conquered our death so that we may rise.
O loving Jesus, may our bodies be
You living Body for all to see.
Ruah, Ruah,
O Holy Spirit, come and make us whole,
Enflame our hearts, our minds, our souls,
Inspire our actions, our fears relieve,
So we may give to others what we receive.
Vessel of hope on our world outpoured,
Your healing breath our lives restore,
Infuse our lives now with your holy gifts,
So in you, source of love, we may always live.
Abba, Yeshua, Ruah.
