Spirit Given Without Measure

After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he spent some time there with them and baptized. John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim because water was abundant there; and people kept coming and were being baptized—John, of course, had not yet been thrown into prison. Now a discussion about purification arose between John’s disciples and a Jew. They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, the one who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you testified, here he is baptizing, and all are going to him.” John answered, “No one can receive anything except what has been given from heaven. You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah, but I have been sent ahead of him.’ He who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. For this reason my joy has been fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease.” The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks about earthly things. The one who comes from heaven is above all. He testifies to what he has seen and heard, yet no one accepts his testimony. Whoever has accepted his testimony has certified this, that God is true. He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in his hands. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but must endure God’s wrath. John 3:22-36 

Creator of gushing waters and endless love

shower and drench us with your spirit today

for we are sorrowful and always afraid

and have forgotten your loving presence.

Five hundred thousand losses and counting

the weight of isolation and fear bears down

we are trapped and enclosed in every side

and cannot see remember your holy promises.

You walked among a people much like us

weary from captivity and oppression

casting judgement and turning on one another 

drowning in fear and anxiety every day.

Baptize us for your service again, Lord

let us be remade in your loving image

help us to be joyful servants of all people

so that your spirit might pour down again. Amen.