A Poem for Lent...
BETWEEN THE PALMS AND THE CROSS
It’s Lent—
I’m sitting here meditating
upon that final
week
wondering what
happened to His followers
after Jesus entered
Jerusalem
riding astride a
donkey
as people spread
their coats before Him
along the dusty
road
Wondering about
those followers
the ones who cut
branches from palm trees
and waved them at
Him in homage, proclaiming
Hosanna to the Son of David!
Hosanna in the highest!
After all, He was
their humble King
I’m sitting here wondering
what happened
between then and days
later
when Jesus stood
before Pilate
amid a crowd of
onlookers
persuasive chief
priests and elders
and everyone began
shouting
Crucify Him! Crucify Him!
Did they forget the
taste of water
that He turned into
wine?
Did they forget the
healed lepers and the blind?
Did they forget Him
preaching
to the multitudes, Blessed be the poor…
and the thousands He
fed with a few loaves and fish
Did they forget He
healed a pitiful demoniac
and the woman with
an issue of blood
Could they have
forgotten that he said to the dead girl,
Talitha kum, and she
sprang right up and walked
And Lazarus? Could
they possibly have forgotten
that Jesus called
His friend out of the tomb
and Lazarus
emerged, grave clothes coiled
around his body…after three days!
I’m still sitting
here wondering about
how quickly they
turned
from their hosannas
to calling for His
death
Wasn’t there one
clear-headed believer
one unable-to-be-swayed
witness
one unshakable
faithful-unto-death follower
to boldly shout out
in protest…
No!
No. There wasn’t
Not even one
Maude Carolan Pych
No comments:
Post a Comment