Wednesday, March 06, 2019

Poem - Relics : A Good Friday Reading

Relics
A Communion Reading for Good Friday 2019
Chaplain O. Kris Widmer, Ordained Minister
Idea: February 27, 2019      Printed:  February 28, 2019



I need not be a groveling pilgrim
in a distant land
to remember Him.
I need not walk the actual street
where He dragged those timbers
with His bloodied feet. No,
            The bread and the wine
            Will do just fine.

I need not know the actual place
Where a soldier’s spit
Dripped down His face.
I need not stand on the actual knoll
where the crucified died
bringing life to my soul. No,
            The bread and the wine
            Will do just fine.

I need not have the actual cross
on which He died
to consider that loss.
I need not touch the actual crown
of thorns that a soldier
pushed in and down. No,
            The bread and the wine
            will do just fine.

I need not see the knuckle bones
used to gamble for
the garb He owned.
I need not touch the actual robe
that was won that day
when He saved this globe. No,
            The bread and the wine
            Will do just fine.

I need not behold the actual steel
that held His hand,
just to make it real.
I need no drops of actual of blood
to know there is power
in that cleansing flood. No,
            The bread and the wine
            Will do just fine.

I need not clutch the actual shroud
used to carry him away
from that mocking crowd.
I need not visit the actual site
where His body lay
on that Friday night. No,
            The bread and the wine
            Will do just fine.

I can vividly recall
what happened there;
when He died for all!
Echo (echo) of curse, of swear;
No heavenly voice answers
His lonely prayer! See,
            The bread and the wine
            Will do just fine.
                                   
Read each glorious Gospel page.
Earth’s recoiling
in a rumbling rage!
Horrible human death machine!
“Finished!” Silence…
Such closing scenes!”  Oh, Yes!
            The bread and the wine
            Will do just fine!

A bite of bread. A sip of wine.
Ground seed of field; crushed fruit of vine.
These relics appear every place I dine.
I need not be actually in Palestine.

A bite.  A sip.  And I’m where He stumbled.
I hear the echos of what He mumbled
“Truly, you’ll join me in Paradise!”
“After three days…you’ll see…I’ll rise!”

I need not feel His precious scars,
to know He’s risen
among the stars.
I need not stand where He ascended.
to spread the good news -
“We’ve been friended!”  Remember,
            The bread and the wine
            Will do just fine.      Yes…
            The bread and wine

            Will do just fine.

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