Breath of Life

Rev. Brandon Blacksten

May 3, 2025

Reading

Then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.
Genesis 2:7

Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”
John 20:21-22

 

Reflection

Our breath is precious and holy.

When each of my daughters were newborns, it was a wondrous, glorious time, but I also remember how exhausting and stressful it was. Whenever one of them would finally fall asleep, it was such a relief. At least, temporarily.

Then it would get too quiet, and I would worry. So I would open the door as quietly as possible and sneak in just to make sure they were OK. When I’d see their tiny chests rising and falling, or heard the precious sounds of baby’s breath, relief would fill me, and I would tiptoe out of the room, hoping not to end the nap I had been desperately longing for.

Their breath was the assurance of life.

I have sat with people at the end of their lives, and each breath is precious. In the last days after my dad moved to hospice care, I remember lying next to him, feeling him breathe, and knowing that precious few breaths remained.

The breath of life.

In the beginning, the first human only came to life after God breathed into it the breath of life. After Jesus’ resurrection, he offered his peace and breathed onto the disciples the Holy Spirit, the Breath of Life.

It’s no coincidence that the words for spirit and breath are the same in both Hebrew and Greek. The Holy Spirit is the one who sustains our lives, just as our breath sustains our body. As Pastor Mark said on Sunday, “Each breath we take is a reminder of the Spirit within us.”

Our breath can help us become aware of God’s presence within and around us. Our breath centers us in God’s presence and love. When you pray today, you might begin your time by taking a few deep breaths. As you inhale, you might imagine yourself breathing in the Holy Spirit. As you exhale, you might imagine breathing out all that is getting in the way of your being with God in that moment.

Continue to breathe deeply, and simply rest in God. When (not if) you get distracted, use your breath to bring your attention to God. You might pray this simple breath prayer:

As you inhale: “Come Holy Spirit.”
As you exhale: “Fill my heart anew.”

Take a few minutes to simply be in the Spirit’s presence, knowing that you are held by the very Breath that gave you life, sustains you to this day, and will raise you to new life in Christ.

Prayer:

Simply pray the breath prayer described above for a minute or two. Return to it throughout your day today.

Come Holy Spirit.
Fill my heart anew.