MOTLEY
MOTLEY
BY
FRANK A VOLLMER
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
KADDISH
KADDISH
THE ESSENCE OF KADDISH
IS
THAT GOD IS WORTHY OF PRAISE
GOOD TIMES AND BAD
BRIGHT DAYS OR BLEAK
SUNNY DAYS OR RAIN
GOD IS WORTHY OF PRAISE
EVEN WHEN GOD IS SILENT
APPEARS DISINTERESTED
THERE ARE THOSE
WHO SAY
THAT GOD WILL BESTIR HIMSELF
AT MAN’S SEXUAL MORES
AT HIS RELIGIOUS BELIEFS
BUT THE WHOLESALE SLAUGHTER OF HIS CHILDREN
LEAVES HIM QUIET
THE ROOT OF THE WORD
IS ARAMAIC
IT MEANS
HOLY
SEPARATE
SET APART
AFTER TWO THOUSAND YEARS OF SORROW
AT CHRISTIAN HANDS
ONE CAN ONLY STAND IN AWE
AT THEIR LOYALTY
TO G-D
THAT INSPIRES THEM
IN THEIR DEEPEST SORROW TO SAY
Glorified and sanctified be God’s great name
throughout the world which He has created
according to His will.
May He establish His kingdom
in your lifetime and during your days,
and within the life of the entire House of Israel,
speedily and soon; and say, Amen.
May His great name be blessed forever and to all eternity.
Blessed and praised, glorified and exalted, extolled and honored, adored and lauded
be the name of the Holy One,
blessed be He,
beyond all the blessings and hymns, praises and consolations that are ever spoken in the world; and say, Amen.
May there be abundant peace from heaven, and life, for us
and for all Israel; and say, Amen.
He who creates peace in His celestial heights,
may He create peace for us and for all Israel; and say, Amen.
THE ESSENCE OF KADDISH
IS
THAT GOD IS WORTHY OF PRAISE
GOOD TIMES AND BAD
BRIGHT DAYS OR BLEAK
SUNNY DAYS OR RAIN
GOD IS WORTHY OF PRAISE
EVEN WHEN GOD IS SILENT
APPEARS DISINTERESTED
THERE ARE THOSE
WHO SAY
THAT GOD WILL BESTIR HIMSELF
AT MAN’S SEXUAL MORES
AT HIS RELIGIOUS BELIEFS
BUT THE WHOLESALE SLAUGHTER OF HIS CHILDREN
LEAVES HIM QUIET
THE ROOT OF THE WORD
IS ARAMAIC
IT MEANS
HOLY
SEPARATE
SET APART
AFTER TWO THOUSAND YEARS OF SORROW
AT CHRISTIAN HANDS
ONE CAN ONLY STAND IN AWE
AT THEIR LOYALTY
TO G-D
THAT INSPIRES THEM
IN THEIR DEEPEST SORROW TO SAY
Glorified and sanctified be God’s great name
throughout the world which He has created
according to His will.
May He establish His kingdom
in your lifetime and during your days,
and within the life of the entire House of Israel,
speedily and soon; and say, Amen.
May His great name be blessed forever and to all eternity.
Blessed and praised, glorified and exalted, extolled and honored, adored and lauded
be the name of the Holy One,
blessed be He,
beyond all the blessings and hymns, praises and consolations that are ever spoken in the world; and say, Amen.
May there be abundant peace from heaven, and life, for us
and for all Israel; and say, Amen.
He who creates peace in His celestial heights,
may He create peace for us and for all Israel; and say, Amen.
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
LOCUSTS AND WILD HONEY
HIS DIET
WAS LOCUSTS
WAS LOCUSTS
AND WILD HONEY
MANY EUROPEANS
TURN THEIR NOSE UP
AT THE LOCUSTS
BUT IN HIS DAY
AND CULTURE
LOCUST AND HONEY
WERE A MEAL FOR THE POOR
THE VERY POOR
WHO COULD SCAVENGE FOR IT
IN THE WILDERNESS
IT WAS THE VERY POOR
AND POOR
THAT JOHN PREACHED TO
THE MAJORITY OF THE POPULATION
THE PEASANTS
ROUGH TREATED HUMANS
CREATE
A ROUGH RELIGION
SO JOHN SPOKE TO THEM ROUGHLY
BUT IN HIS HEART
HE WAS LIKE A PARENT DISCIPLINING HIS CHILD
WHAT MUST WE DO THEY CRIED
SHARE WHAT YOU HAVE
CLOTHING
FOOD
BE HONEST IN YOUR WORK
BE HONORABLE
IN YOUR DEALING WITH OTHERS
BE A CHILD OF ABRAHAM
REMEMBER
BEING A CHILD OF ABRAHAM
GAINS YOU NOTHING
IF YOUR ACTIONS ARE UNWORTHY
OF BEING ABRAHAM’S CHILD
JOHN WASN’T A DIPLOMAT
HE WAS BEHEADED
NEITHER WAS JESUS
HE WAS CRUCIFIED
BUT BEFORE THAT
JESUS
WITH A DAWNING SENSE OF VOCATION
JOINED JOHN’S
RENEWAL MOVEMENT
HE WAS BAPTIZED
GOING DOWN INTO THE WATER
LIKE THE RED SEA
COMING UP A MEMBER
DEDICATED TO CHANGE
FROM THE SLAVERY OF THE OLD
TO THE FREEDOM OF THE NEW
BY THE TIME JOHN DIED
JESUS HAD BRANCHED OUT ON HIS OWN
JOHN WAS A GOOD FRONTMAN
BUT JESUS THOUGHT
HE PREACHED
AN ANGRY GOD
HIS CONCEPT WAS DIFFERENT
HE BELIEVED GOD LOVED HIS CREATION
WANTED WHAT WAS BEST FOR HIS CREATION
WHO WOULD
THOUGH HE DIDN’T KNOW IT AT THE TIME
DIE FOR HIS CREATION
JESUS WAS A PEASANT
HIS FATHER WAS A TEKTON
A DAY LABORER
HE SHARED WITH OTHER PEASANTS
A NATURAL DISTASTE
FOR CHURCH
AND STATE
BOTH IN HIS MIND
WANTED TO KEEP HIM DOWN
AND TAKE HIS MONEY
HE SAID TO HIS FELLOW PEASANTS
YOU HAVE DIGNITY
WHICH CANNOT BE TAKEN AWAY
YOU HAVE BEEN CREATED BY GOD IN HIS IMAGE
WALK PROUDLY
HOLD UP YOUR HEAD
YOU ARE
EACH OF YOU
GOD’S FAVORITE
WHICH WAS WHY
WHEN HE ENTERED THE TEMPLE
WHEN HE SAW THE GOUGING OF THE POOR
HE BECAME INCENSED
AND IN A HOLY RAGE
CHASED THEM FROM THE TEMPLE
SO DOING
HE HAD SIGNED HIS OWN DEATH WARRANT
HE HAD UPSET
HOWEVER BRIEFLY
THE MONEY MACHINE
FOR THAT
HE MUST DIE
THEY KILLED HIM
THEY PLANTED HIM
THEY WALKED AWAY DUSTING THEIR HANDS
THAT’S THE END OF HIM THEY THOUGHT
BUT HIS TEACHING
BURST FROM THE TOMB
LIKE A SWARM OF LOCUSTS
AND THEY SANG AS THEY FLEW
TASTE AND SEE
THE SWEETNESS OF GOD
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
LUNGTA
THE TIBETANS CALL PRAYER FLAGS
LUNGTA
WHICH LITERALLY MEANS
WIND HORSE
PRAYER FLAGS IS A MISNOMER
IF IT IS THOUGHT
THAT EVERY FLAP OF THE CLOTH
IS A PRAYER TO THE GODS
BUT INSTEAD IT IS A PRAYER
OF BENEVOLENCE
AND FOR WELL BEING
ON THOSE PEOPLE AND THINGS
THE WIND TOUCHES
AFTER IT FLAPS THE CLOTH
BEYOND THE THOUGHT OF THE LUNGTA
IS THE CONCEPT
THAT IF YOU WISH YOUR NEIGHBOR WELL
YOU WILL TREAT THEM WELL
IT’S LIKE THE PALMS
WE HOLD
ON PALM SUNDAY
JUST A BRANCH OF A TREE
BUT IF IT REMINDS US
OF CHRIST’S PASSION
AND MOVES US
TO LIVE A LIFE
WORTHY OF SALVATION
IT BECOMES A HOLY THING
A SACRAMENTAL
AN ORDINARY THING MADE HOLY BY USE
HOW MANY SACRAMENTALS
ARE COMMON TO THE RELIGIOUS EXPRESSION
ROSARIES
OR COUNTING BEADS
PILGRIMAGES
TO HOLY PLACES
CLERGY
SACRIFICES
WHERE THE VICTIM BECOMES THE MEAL
CODES OF CONDUCT
SACRED WRITINGS
AND PAINFUL TO SAY
FRACTIONS
FACTIONS
PREJUDICE
HATRED
BETRAYAL OF THEIR FOUNDER’S MESSAGE
WALLS TO SHUT OUT NON BELIEVERS
WALLS WHERE GOD WOULD HAVE NONE
GOD SO LOVED HIS CREATION
HE ESTABLISHED NO WALLS
TO THE EXTENT
THAT WE AS HUMANS
ARE CAPABLE
OUR HEARTS
SHOULD BE AS WIDE AS GOD’S
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
MOTHER’S SPIT
I REMEMBER
BEING SPIT POLISHED
BEFORE CHURCH
WITH MOTHER’S SPIT
I ALSO REMEMBER
HAVING MY CLOTHING WET CLEANED
BEFORE BEING SENT OUT INTO THE WORLD
AND BRUISES AND CUTS
WERE STARTED ON THE WAY TO HEALING
WITH THE SAME
MOTHER’S SPIT
MIRACLE POTION
HEALING TEARS
WHILE RESTORING
A CRYING FACE
TO ITS ORIGINAL SHINE
SOMETIMES I LONG FOR MOTHER’S SPIT
TO PUT THE WORLD BACK TO WHERE IT WAS
I LOOK AT MY GRANDCHILDREN
AND ALL THE BACTERIA
KILLING PRODUCTS
AND KNOW THEY’LL NEVER REPLACE
A MOTHER’S
ANXIOUS
AND LOVING FACE
SAYING LOOK AT YOU NOW
PLAYING STICK BALL
IN YOUR SUNDAY CLOTHES
COME HERE WHILE I FIX YOU
AND LIKE JESUS
BENDING OVER
THE BLIND MAN
THE DEAF MAN
SHE’D RESTORE ME
TO PRISTINE GLORY
AND SEND ME ON MY WAY
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
MUD
IN HIS CONSTANT DARKNESS
HE GROPED HIS WAY TO THE POOL
AIDED BY THE KINDNESS OF STRANGERS
IT WAS NOT HIS NORMAL PLACE OF BUSINESS
HIS PARENTS
WOULD DELIVER HIM
TO THE TEMPLE CONFINES
WHERE HE BEGGED
FROM THE GUILTY GOING IN
THE JUSTIFIED COMING OUT
PEOPLE ANXIOUS TO PERFORM A MITZVAH
LIKE THIS PERSON
WHO HAD JUST SPOKE TO HIM
HAD SPOKEN AS IF TO AN EQUAL
THE THOUGHT WAS
THAT SALIVA
HAD HEALING PROPERTIES
SO JESUS SPAT ON THE GROUND
MADE MUD
COATED THE MAN’S EYES WITH IT
TELLING HIM
GO WASH IN THE POOL
OF SILOAM
WHICH MEANS SENT
AS JESUS WAS SENT
TO BRING LIGHT
HE PLUNGED INTO THE POOL
NOT GRACEFULLY
BUT A FULL BELLY FLOP
THEN STOOD UP
WATER STREAMING
THE MUD WASHED AWAY
SAW A FUNNY FACE
RIPPLES DISTORTING THE IMAGE
GRADUALLY THE WATER STILLED
A BEAUTIFUL IMAGE EMERGED
HE WEPT
AND PRAYED
NOW LORD
WHEN I LOOK AT THE HEAVENS
THE WORK OF YOUR FINGERS
THE MOON AND THE STARS
THAT YOU HAVE MADE
WHAT ARE WE
LITTLE ANTS
THAT YOU ARE MINDFUL OF US
YET YOU HAVE MADE US
A LITTLE LOWER THAN GOD
CROWNED US WITH GLORY AND HONOR
AND GIVEN ME A BEAUTIFUL FACE
I SHALL SERVE THIS SON OF MAN
THIS HEALER
CERTAINLY GRATEFUL FOR HIS HEALING
BUT MORE
HE SPOKE TO ME AS AN EQUAL
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
NOW
JESUS
FILLED WITH THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT
WAS PREACHING IN GALILEE
GOING FROM VILLAGE TO VILLAGE
AND THE PEOPLE FELT HOPE
AND JOY
IN HIS MESSAGE
BUT THE RULERS OF THE SYNAGOGUE
THE WEALTHY
THE IMPORTANT
FELT THREATENED
HE WAS NOW IN NAZARETH
AND HE AND HIS MOTHER
WERE WALKING TO THE SYNAGOGUE
AT THE DOOR THEY PARTED.
MARY WENT TO SIT WITH THE WOMEN
BECAUSE THE SYNAGOGUE WAS SEGREGATED
AT THE CENTER OF THE SYNAGOGUE SAT
ALL THE IMPORTANT MEN OF THE VILLAGE
AROUND THEM SAT
THE OTHER MEN OF THE VILLAGE
THE WOMEN WERE IGNORED
THEY WERE NOT IMPORTANT.
IN FACT THE JEWISH LEADERS SAID
THAT IT WOULD BE BETTER
FOR THE BIBLE TO BE BURNED
RATHER THAN BE TAUGHT TO A WOMAN.
THIS WAS THE WORLD JESUS LIVED IN
AND HE DID NOT LIKE IT.
HE ALSO DID NOT LIKE THE PRAYER
THAT JEWISH MEN SAID DAILY
.
THEY SAID
BLESSED BE GOD
THAT HE HAS NOT MADE ME
A GENTILE
BLESSED BE GOD
THAT HE HAS NOT MADE ME
A WOMAN
BLESSED BE GOD
THAT HE HAS NOT MADE ME
A SLAVE
THIS ALSO BOTHERED JESUS.
IT WAS NOT THE WORLD
THAT HE
OR HIS FATHER WANTED.
LATER PAUL
WOULD ANSWER THAT PRAYER
WITH A NEW ONE
THAT REFLECTED WHAT JESUS THOUGHT
WHEN HE WROTE
AS MANY OF YOU
AS WERE BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST
HAVE CLOTHED YOURSELVES
WITH CHRIST
THEREFORE
THERE IS NO LONGER
JEW OR GREEK,
THERE IS NO LONGER
SLAVE OR FREE,
THERE IS NO LONGER
MALE AND FEMALE;
FOR ALL OF YOU
ARE ONE IN CHRIST JESUS.
BUT THAT PRAYER WAS WRITTEN
AFTER JESUS HAD LIVED AND DIED.
BUT TODAY IN OUR STORY
JESUS IS BEGINNING HIS JOURNEY
.
AS HE LOOKS AT THE ASSEMBLY
HE IS SADDENED
THAT THEY HAVE WANDERED
SO FAR FROM HIS FATHER'S DREAM
.
HE OPENS THE SCRIPTURES
AND READING FROM ISAIAH
DECLARES IN A STRONG VOICE
THE NEW/OLD VISION OF THE FATHER
FOR HIS PEOPLE
TODAY HE SAYS
THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME
.
HE HAS APPOINTED ME
.
HE HAS APPOINTED ME
TO BRING GOOD NEWS
TO THE POOR
HE HAS APPOINTED ME
TO PROCLAIM LIBERTY
HE HAS APPOINTED ME
TO TELL THE BLIND
THAT THEY SHALL SEE.
TO TELL THE DOWNTRODDEN
THEIR BURDEN IS LIFTED
AND TO TELL
ALL PEOPLE
THAT THE TIME FOR GOD'S BLESSINGS
IS NOW
JESUS CLOSES THE BOOK.
LOOKS AT ALL THE IMPORTANT PEOPLE,
LOOKS AT ALL THE NOT SO IMPORTANT PEOPLE
LOOKS AT HIS MOTHER
AND ALL THE OTHER WOMEN
WHO DID NOT COUNT
AND SAYS
TODAY
THIS SCRIPTURE HAS BEEN FULFILLED
IN YOUR HEARING
MEANING THAT THE TIME FOR CHANGE
WAS NOW
AND FOR THAT REASON
JESUS WAS PREACHING.
.
BUT THE RICH MEN
AND THE IMPORTANT MEN
AND THE LEADERS
OF THE SYNAGOGUE
THOUGHT
WHY WORRY ABOUT THOSE
WHO ARE WITHOUT
ABOUT THOSE
WHO COUNT FOR NOTHING
THE OTHER MEN WONDERED
WHY THE FUSS,
LIFE IS GOING ON OK FOR ME.
IT TOOK PAUL
TO PUT WORDS TO JESUS' DREAM
WHEN HE WRITES
THAT THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY
IS LIKE A BODY,
MANY PARTS
ONE BODY
AND THAT THAT
BODY IS THE BODY OF CHRIST.
AS PAUL WRITES
FOR IN ONE SPIRIT
WE WERE ALL BAPTIZED
INTO ONE BODY
NO MORE JEW OR GREEK,
SLAVE OR FREE
BUT ONE BODY
AND IN THAT BODY
IF ONE PART SUFFERS
THE WHOLE BODY SUFFERS.
JUST AS
IF ONE PART OF THE BODY IS HONORED
THE WHOLE BODY IS HONORED.
WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR NEIGHBOR.
THIS IS JESUS' DREAM
THAT WE CARE FOR OUR NEIGHBOR
AS IF HE WERE CHRIST.
THAT WE CARE FOR OUR NEIGHBOR
BECAUSE HE IS ONE WITH US
IN CHRIST'S BODY
SO JESUS LOOKING AT THE WORLD
THROUGH OUR EYES
AND SEEING
THAT IT IS NOT THE WORLD
THAT HIS FATHER
OR HE WANTS.
ASKS US TO SAY WITH HIM
AS HE SAID IN NAZARETH
THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON US.
HE HAS APPOINTED US.
HE HAS APPOINTED US
TO BRING GOOD NEWS TO THE POOR
HE HAS APPOINTED US
TO PROCLAIM LIBERTY
TO CAPTIVES
HE HAS APPOINTED US
TO TELL THE BLIND
THAT THEY SHALL SEE.
TO TELL THE DOWNTRODDEN
THEIR BURDEN IS LIFTED
TO TELL ALL PEOPLE
THAT THE TIME
FOR GOD'S BLESSINGS
IS NOW
FOR THE RIGHT TIME IS NOW
THE DAY OF SALVATION IS NOW
ORDINARY PEOPLE
WE ARE ORDINARY PEOPLE
CAUGHT UP IN EXTRAORDINARY EVENTS
EVENTS FOR WHICH WE ARE ILL PREPARED
EVENTS WHICH OFTEN OVERWHELMED US
AND WE BEHAVE POORLY
BUT THIS IS WHERE GOD CHOOSES TO MEET HIS PEOPLE
THIS IS WHAT GIVES JESUS HIS UNIQUE STATURE
FOR BEING HUMAN
HE KNEW WHAT IT MEANT TO BE TOUCHED BY LIFE
WHEN IT GOES TO ASHES
WHEN THINGS GO WRONG
NO ROOM FOR A PREGNANT WOMAN
CHASED BY SOLDIERS OUT TO KILL BABIES
THE LONG ORDINARY YEARS
OF TRYING TO SUPPORT HIS MOTHER
GAINING THE RESPECT OF HIS NEIGHBORS
THEN LOSING IT
CHASED FROM HIS OWN HOMETOWN
HIS FAMILY THINKING HIM CRAZY
TRYING TO MAKE A KINGDOM OF SOULS
THEY WOULD MAKE HIM KING OF THE LAND
TRYING TO TEACH HIS SIMPLE MESSAGE TO HIS FOLLOWERS
THEY KEPT MISUNDERSTANDING
BUT WHAT HE COULD DO
WHEN EVERYTHING ELSE WOULDN'T WORK
HE COULD WORK A PIECE OF WOOD
HE MADE FARM IMPLEMENTS
AND HE COULD BRAG
THAT HIS YOKES WERE EASY
THEY WOULDN'T RUB THE ANIMAL RAW
THAT HIS YOKES WERE EASY
HE COULD MAKE THEIR BURDENS LIGHT
IF ONLY HE THOUGHT
I COULD SHAPE MEN AS I SHAPE WOOD
WOOD HAS ALWAYS BEEN MY FRIEND
MY PEOPLE MY PEOPLE
GIVEN TO ME BY MY FATHER
GIVEN TO ME TO BE SAVED
HOW I HUNGER FOR YOUR LOVE
IMPERFECT AS IT IS
HOW I HUNGER FOR YOUR LOVE
YOU ARE THE ALPHA AND OMEGA OF MY LOVE
BEGINNING AND END
ORDINARY LETTERS
GIVEN MYSTICAL MEANING
AS ALL MY PEOPLE
ALL MY ORDINARY PEOPLE
ARE RAISED TO A MYSTICAL LEVEL
BY MY DEATH
A DEATH THEY OFTEN DO NOT VALUE
NOR WILL THEY VALUE THEIR EXALTED NATURE
AND YET I LOVE THEM WHERE THEY ARE
AS I LABOR TO MAKE THEIR ROUGH WAYS PLAIN
THEIR CROOKED WAYS STRAIGHT
AS I POUR MYSELF OUT
TO FILL THEIR VALLEYS UP WITH ME
O THAT I COULD SHAPE THEM AS I SHAPE WOOD
WOOD
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
Galatians 2:10
LISTEN BUT DO NOT HEAR
You give bread to a hungry person; but it would be better were no one hungry, and you could give it to no one. You clothe the naked person. Would that all were clothed and this necessity did not exist. (Tractate 1 John 8,8) Augustine of Hippo
WHEN PAUL CAME TO JERUSALEM
FOR WHAT WOULD BE KNOWN
AS THE COUNCIL OF JERUSALEM
OR
THE APOSTOLIC COUNCIL
PAUL CAME TO PRESENT HIS CREDENTIALS
THE RIGHT TO PREACH TO THE GENTILES
WITHOUT INFLICTING JEWISH CUSTOMS ON THEM
PAUL PREACHED WELL
PAUL COULD PREACH THE SPOTS OFF A DALMATIAN
WHEN ALL THE INTELLECTUAL DUST HAD SETTLED
THE APOSTLES HAD ONLY ONE MANDATE TO GIVE HIM
REMEMBER THE POOR
REMEMBER THE POOR
RINGS LIKE A REFRAIN
DOWN THE CENTURIES
MOSTLY IGNORED
MOSTLY FEEDING THE HUNGRY
WITHOUT ASKING WHY
CHRIST KNOWING
THAT WE ARE OFTEN
UNAWARE OF THE WORLD AROUND US
SAID
YOU HAVE THE POOR ALWAYS WITH YOU
IT’S A REBUKE TO THE BLIND
AND THE DEAF AMONG US
IT’S A REBUKE TOO ALL OF US
WHO FEAST AT DIVES TABLE
AND NOT SEE LAZARUS
WHO WALK BY THE WOUNDED MAN
ON THE ROAD TO JERICHO
AFRAID TO BE CONTAMINATED
CHRIST WHISPERS
FEW HEAR
WHATSOEVER YOU DO….
.
Labels: BOOK
posted by Unknown @ 10:50 AM
0 Comments
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home