Holy Spirit, Come, O Come.

John 16:13 (J B Phillips) “I have much more to tell you but you cannot bear it now. Yet when that one I have spoken to you about comes—the Spirit of truth—he will guide you into everything that is true. For he will not be speaking of his own accord but exactly as he hears, and he will inform you about what is to come. He will bring glory to me for he will draw on my truth and reveal it to you. Whatever the Father possesses is also mine; that is why I tell you that he will draw on my truth and will show it to you.

Each one of us must, at some point, come face to face with the truth. To do this we need to identify and distance ourselves from the impulses and addictions that drive our attitudes and actions. We are not left to tackle this most difficult of tasks on our own. Through the Spirit of truth, Jesus continues to speak to us. But he can only help us if we seek that help.

What particular grace will I ask from the Spirit today?

We continue today with a prayer found on the “Singing the Faith Website”.

God of new beginnings,
because you come among us to make us whole,
we approach your table with delight and trepidation:
glad to be comforted,
ready to be challenged;
knowing your personal touch
and your generous love for all.

We come
with those who have nothing and need more,
with those who have all they require and look for nothing,
with those trapped and suffering in the gap dividing rich and poor.
May what we receive be shared with all,
food for bodies and nourishment for souls.
May your sharing and our sharing
show what is good for your world –
a way of being for nations and leaders, communities and individuals.

“At the table of the world,
some have plenty, some have none.
At the table of the our God,
all are plentifully fed.”

We come to your table
as individuals who know what it is to be vulnerable,
with worries that grow big in the night time,
and fears that diminish our confidence
but we are welcomed by you
with all who are vulnerable and scorned,
whose value is dismissed,
who are made to feel less than they are.

May the gifts we recognise in each other
draw us closer into community.
May we be changed by our neighbour
and see you active in all we meet.
Amen.

Singing the Faith 372 v2

O let it freely burn, 

till earthly passions turn 

to dust and ashes in its heat consuming; 

and let thy glorious light 

shine ever on my sight, 

and clothe me round, the while my path illuming.