As the wind cannot be seen
We cannot look at your face, Lord God
For it glory is too dazzling for us
Its light is blinding, hurting our eyes
we turn away
[pause]
As the wind cannot be curbed
you cannot be limited, Son of David
to a time or place
to a people or culture
we welcome you, with hosannas
with joy and adoration
for we can look upon your face
the face of God incarnate
the one who comes in the name of the Lord
[pause]
As the wind cannot be stopped
you cannot be tamed, Holy Spirit
blowing gently, warm comfort into the world
blowing harshly, destroying structures in hearts and minds which limit God’s power and love
Like the wind, we try to keep you at bay, breath of God
closing the doors of our hearts to your guiding, challenging
yet turning to you when we need powered for our own ends, to meet our own desires
So, when we ask your wind to come sweeping through us, do we really mean it?
Do we?
[pause]
Come, Lord God
enter deeply our hearts and minds and souls
may we truly allow your Spirit, your Word to shape and guide us
That as we follow Jesus to the cross
we will remain faithful to him
neither turning away nor condemning him
knowing we will turn away in horror, in sadness, in pain
in the knowledge there are times we have been robbers, rather than prayerful people in your house
knowing we have been like the priests and teacher of the law, rather than the children who praise you as the Son of David
[pause]
May we know we are forgiven
may we be willing to be taken where the Wind of the Holy Spirit takes us
for the sake of the one who held nothing back from us
Amen