Sunday Prayer: Palm/Passion Sunday

God of all hopefulness, God of my life
On this holy day of Palms and Passions 
and through this 
the holiest of weeks,
when our Lenten journey
finds its completion
through pain
sorrow
despair
illness
losses of all kinds,
through fear
anger
hatred
vitriol
and finger pointing.

Through a (self) examination of
all the ways we work against you -
against your hopes and dreams 
for creation
against your love poured out 
in flesh and blood -
we hang our heads and bow our hearts
seeking your forgiveness
yearning for your guidance
desiring your compassion.

Fill us we pray, with the ability to
turn to you, kneeling before your grace
open our spirit that we may take you in
let you in
receive you in 
taking You in..

Into our hearts and minds and souls 
Let you in
that we might turn to you, 
return to you, 
be transformed in you, 
through you, by you, 
for you.

Transformed 
once more,
this day, this week,
into a new self, 
me, you.

May we become a new people, 
a gentle people, 
a people of
love and compassion, 
born anew from our
deepest sorrow 
through the breadth of your 
forgiveness
and love.

And then, may we do likewise.
Forgive.
And, love.
Amen.

Crossposted on A Place for Prayer and SeekingAuthenticVoice