God of the root and the trunk,

Lord of the seed, the shoot, the flowering branch,

we cannot break these hard shells.

We are buried too deep to be softened by rain.

We do not imagine the light above ground.

We do not dream of fresh things; we sigh and fret about the old.

You say, I am coming.

Change your hearts. Turn around.

We say, Help us, O God,

to bear the fruits of repentance.

Give us what we need to hope.

God of the holy mountain,

Lord of the house where righteousness dwells,

Judge of living and dead,

we are not like you who knows the heart;

we judge by what our eyes see.

We do not consider the poor,

nor decide for the meek.

We do not inquire after you. We have forgotten your name.

You say, I am coming.

Change your hearts. Turn around.

We say, Help us, O God,

to bear fruits of repentance.

Give us what we need to be wise.

God of the lion, the wolf and the lamb,

Lord of the leopard, the kid, the child,

we do not lie down together.

We step warily near the serpent’s hole.

We are afraid of everyone;

we make them afraid of us.

We watch for each other with swords in our hands.

You say, I am coming.

Change your hearts. Turn around.

We say, Help us, O God,

to bear the fruits of repentance.

Give us what we need to make peace.

God of the threshing floor, the fork and the fire,

Lord of wild honey, of locusts and wild places,

God of the axe and the crowd,

we do not line up at the river.

We do not go in.

We do not bend our knee; we tie no one’s sandal.

We level no mountains, raise no valleys.

We are a crooked road, a stony path, a haughty crowd.

You say, I am coming.

Change your hearts. Turn around.

We say, Help us, O God,

to bear the fruits of repentance.

Give us what we need to decrease.

 God of Mary, whom you disturbed,

God of her life upturned,

God of the fruit of her womb, Jesus,

who mothered our lives with his mercy,

we are not startled by angels;

we guard against interruptions.

We do not turn the prism of our hearts,

pondering the whys.

We do not open our hands: we expect so little.

You say, I am coming.

Change your hearts. Turn around.

We say, Help us, O God,

to bear the fruits of repentance.

Give us what we need to desire.

Give us what we need to dare.