A Bulletin Piece for SUNDAY, APRIL 19, 2020 

A Prayer for the Day (by Walter Brueggeman, Prayers for a Privileged People, 2008)

From Whom no Secrets Are Hid....

(a phrase from the traditional Collect for Purity)

The priest says, "Almighty God. . . from whom no secrets are hid."

            We rush to the next phrase but now linger there.

We are rich conundrums of secrets,

            we weave a pattern of lies in order to be

                        well thought of,

            we engage in subterfuge about our truth.

We carry old secrets too painful to utter,

                                                too shameful to acknowledge,

                                                too burdensome to bear,

            of failures we cannot undo,

            of alienations we regret but cannot fix,

            of grandiose exhibits we cannot curb.

And you know them.

            You know them all.

            And so we take a deep sigh in your presence,

                        no longer needing to pretend and

                                                cover up and

                                                deny.

We mostly do not have big sins to confess,

            only modest shames that do not

                        fit our hoped-for selves.

And then we find that your knowing is more

            powerful than our secrets.

You know and do not turn away,

            and our secrets that seemed too powerful

                        are emptied of strength,

            secrets that seemed too burdensome

                        are now less severe.

We marvel that when you find us out

                        you stay with us,

            taking us seriously,

            taking our secrets soberly,

                        but not ultimately,

            overpowering our little failure

            with your massive love

                                    and abiding patience.

We long to be fully, honestly

                        exposed to your gaze of gentleness.

            In the moment of your knowing

                                    we are eased and lightened,

            and we feel the surge of joy move in our bodies,

                        because we are not ours in cringing

                        but yours in communion.

We are yours and find the truth before you

            makes us free for

                        wonder, love, and praise -- and new life.