A BOOK OF LENTEN MEDITATIONS

A BOOK OF LENTEN MEDITATIONS

By

FRANK A VOLLMER

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ASH WEDNESDAY (Ecclesiastes 3:20)

ASH WEDNESDAY AND FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT

I

AND MANY OTHER CHRISTIANS

HAD ASHES

IN THE FORM OF A CROSS

PLACED ON OUR FOREHEAD

AS THE ASHES WERE BEING PLACED

THE MINISTER SAID THESE WORDS

REMEMBER

THAT YOU ARE DUST

AND BACK TO DUST

YOU SHALL RETURN

WE WERE PERFORMING A RITUAL

AS OLD

AS THE OLD TESTAMENT

WHENEVER

THERE WERE MOMENTS

OF GREAT SORROW

OR REPENTANCE FOR SIN

ASHES WERE PLACED

ON THE HEAD OF THE ONE

SEEKING FORGIVENESS

AS CHRISTIANS

WE HAVE STARTED LENT

WITH THIS GESTURE

A GESTURE

THE CHURCH USES

TO HELP US RECALL

WHO WE ARE

AND WHAT PRICE JESUS PAID

TO REDEEM US

WE ARE DUST

BUT PRECIOUS DUST

AS THE POET WROTE

AFTER SEEING THE WIND

SPIN DUST IN A CIRCLE

DOES THE WIND KNOW

THE VALUE OF THE DUST

IT WHIRLS INTO A COLUMN

IS IT TRYING TO MAKE A MAN

IF IT SUCCEEDED

WOULD IT BLOW ITS CREATION AWAY

ON A WHIM

WOULD IT LOVE ITS CREATION

WOULD IT DIE FOR HIM

WOULD IT HOVER OVER HIM

LIKE A MOTHER HEN

FUSSING FORGIVING

TIME AND AGAIN

FOLDING HIM TO HER BOSOM

OR WOULD IT

AS SO MANY GODS BUT ONE

FADE FALTER

AND GO AWAY

THE GOD WHO CALLS US

TO REPENTANCE

AND TO SORROW FOR OUR SINS

WILL NOT FORGET US

HE HAS PAID TOO HIGH A PRICE

FOR US

NOR IS HE INTERESTED

IN OUR CONDEMNATION

BUT IN OUR SALVATION

HE LOVES US SO MUCH

HE BECAME HUMAN.

THAT HE MIGHT EXPERIENCE

ALL THAT IT TAKES

TO BE HUMAN

AND PART OF THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE

IS FAILURE

OF NOT MEASURING UP TO THE MARK

OF MISSING THE MARK

AS THE ARCHER

MISSES THE MARK

WITH HIS ARROW

THE WORD FOR SIN IN THE BIBLE

MEANS MISSING THE MARK

SO JESUS LIKE US

WAS TEMPTED BY THE DEVIL

WAS TESTED BY THE DEVIL

AND HE PASSED.

HOLD ON TO THIS THOUGHT

JESUS BEAT THE DEVIL

BY USING THE BIBLE

WHEN THE DEVIL SAID

TO THE HUNGRY JESUS

MAKE BREAD OUT OF STONE

JESUS REPLIED

MAN DOES NOT LIVE

BY BREAD ALONE

WHEN THE DEVIL

OFFERED JESUS

UNLIMITED POWER

JESUS SAID

THE ONLY POWER IS GOD.

AND WHEN SATAN

SAID TO JESUS

MAKE MAGIC

JESUS REPLIED

THOSE WHO LOVE GOD

DO NOT NEED MAGIC.

ALL THESE ANSWERS

THAT JESUS GAVE SATAN

ARE FOUND IN THE SCRIPTURES

THE LAST LINE

OF THE GOSPEL TELLING THE STORY OF THE TEMPTATION

SAYS

THAT WHEN THE DEVIL

HAD FINISHED

ALL HIS TEMPTING

ALL HIS TESTING OF JESUS

HE LEFT HIM

TILL THERE WOULD BE

A MORE OPPORTUNE TIME

AND TO THIS DAY

THE DEVIL GOES AROUND

LIKE A ROARING LION

SEEKING SOMEONE TO DEVOUR

PUTTING CHRIST TO THE TEST

IN THE FORM OF US

FOR WE ARE CHRIST

IN THE WORLD TODAY

TO US

IS GIVEN THE TASK

TO BE CHRIST-LIKE

IN THE WORLD

IN WHICH WE LIVE.

AND THAT'S

THE PURPOSE OF LENT

TO HELP US REMEMBER

WHY WE ARE HERE,

WHY AND HOW

WE WERE SAVED

WHY AND HOW

THE DUST

THAT THE WIND PLAYS WITH

IS SO PRECIOUS

AND TO DENY SATAN

HIS OPPORTUNE TIME

BY DOING

AND GIVING BACK TO GOD

OUR BEST

THIS GIVING OF THE BEST

IS WHAT IS CALLED FOR

IN DEUTERONOMY

WHERE MOSES SAYS

GIVE GOD THE BEST

THE FRESHEST YIELD

FROM YOUR GARDEN

DO THIS

BECAUSE HE HAS RESCUED YOU

FROM SLAVERY

AND GIVEN YOU A NEW HOME

THAT IS WHY

WE ARE ASKED

AS PART OF LENT

TO GIVE GOD OUR BEST

BECAUSE HE HAS RESCUED US

FROM SLAVERY

AND GIVEN US

A NEW HOME- HEAVEN

WE ARE ALL FAMILIAR

WITH THE LENTEN CONCEPT

OF GIVING THINGS UP

LIKE CANDY, ICE CREAM, MOVIES

BUT I SUGGEST

WE DO

WHAT WE NORMALLY DO

BUT TRY TO DO IT BETTER.

SO WHATEVER

IS A SORE SPOT IN YOUR LIFE,

WHATEVER IN YOUR LIFE

DOES NOT LOOK LIKE

CHRIST IN ACTION

WHATEVER IS NOT YOUR BEST

IN WHATEVER WAY

YOU ARE MISSING THE MARK

STOP

PRAY

AND RE-AIM YOUR ARROW.

SUGGESTIONS

HUSBAND AND WIVES

REDUCE FRICTION.

CHILDREN DO YOUR SCHOOL WORK

AND CHORES WILLINGLY

OR LEAST WITHOUT GRUMBLING

ALL OF US EAT

WHAT WE'RE SERVED

WITHOUT GRUMBLING

ALL OF US

TURN OFF THE TELEVISION

AND TALK TO EACH OTHER.

ALL OF US MAKE TIME

FOR REGULAR PRAYER

ALL OF US

READ A CHAPTER OF THE BIBLE DAILY.

REMEMBER JESUS BESTED SATAN

WITH ANSWERS FROM THE BIBLE

IN ALL THINGS

BE GENTLE WITH EACH OTHER

AND WITH YOURSELVES

WE ARE PRECIOUS DUST

REDEEMED BY CHRIST

BECAUSE GOD LOVES HIS CREATION

AND WANTS WHAT IS BEST FOR US.

WHAT IS BEST FOR YOU,

WHAT IS BEST FOR ME

FINALLY

THESE FORTY DAYS OF LENT

REPRESENT

THE LAST DAYS AND WEEKS

OF LIFE FOR JESUS

WHEN THE FORCES OF DARKNESS

WERE TRYING

TO FIRST SILENCE HIM

AND WHEN THAT FAILED

TO KILL HIM

THE CLOUDS ARE GATHERING

AROUND JESUS

AS THE ENEMY CIRCLES

MANY ARE LEAVING JESUS.

IT IS A LONELY TIME.

HE ASKS US

COULD YOU NOT

WALK

THESE LAST FEW DAYS

WITH ME

COULD YOU NOT

FOR THESE LAST FEW DAYS

THESE FORTY DAYS

GIVE ME YOUR BEST

NOT FOR PROFIT

NOT FOR GAIN

NOT FOR MERIT

BUT BECAUSE YOU LOVE ME

CAN WE SAY YES TO HIS PLEA

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Nicodemus

LET ME START BY TELLING YOU A FEW STORIES

THE WORD CALENDAR

COMES FROM THE LATIN WORD CALENDS

WHICH MEANS THE FIRST OF THE MONTH

SO A CALENDAR

IS A DEVICE

THAT HELPS PEOPLE

FIND THE FIRST OF THE MONTH

THE WORD CALENDS

ALSO MEANS

THE COIN PURSE OF THE MONEY LENDER

WHO WOULD COME BY

ON THE FIRST OF THE MONTH

WITH HIS PURSE OPEN

TO RECEIVE THE PAYMENTS DUE HIM

OFTEN WE FEAR THAT GOD WILL COME

UNANNOUNCED

TO COLLECT OUR DEBT TO HIM

THAT HE WOULD COME WITH AN OPEN PURSE

LIKE A MONEY LENDER DEMANDING PAYMENT

AND BECAUSE WE ARE IMPOVERISHED

AND CANNOT PAY

WE WOULD BE PUNISHED

NOT A NEW IDEA

OUR FOUNDER

MARTIN LUTHER

LABORED MUCH OF HIS LIFE

UNDER THE IDEA

THAT TRY AS HE MIGHT

HE COULD NOT PLEASE GOD

AND AS A RESULT

AN ANGRY

MEAN SPIRITED GOD

WOULD PUNISH HIM

NICODEMUS

COMES AT NIGHT

TO MEET WITH JESUS

HE WAS AN IMPORTANT RICH MAN

A LEADER IN THE COMMUNITY

HE CAME AT NIGHT

HIS COMING AT NIGHT

DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN

HE WAS AFRAID TO BE SEEN

WITH JESUS

A JEWISH PROVERB OF THE TIMES

SAID

IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK TO A MAN DEEPLY

COME TO HIS HOUSE WHEN THE CHILDREN

WERE ASLEEP

SO NICODEMUS

CAME TO JESUS AT NIGHT

WHO WAS THIS NICODEMUS

A PHARISEE

A LEADER OF THE PEOPLE

AN OBSERVER OF ALL THE LAWS

THAT MUST BE OBEYED

TO PLEASE GOD

JUDAISM HAD DISINTEGRATED

INTO A SERIES OF MAN MADE LAWS

CREATED BY A PROCESS CALLED PILPUL

WHICH WAS A STUDY OF THE LAW

TO DISCOVER ALL ITS SHADES AND MEANINGS

AND THE ONES WHO PROMOTED THIS STUDY

WERE THE SCRIBES AND PHARISEES

SOME EXAMPLES

YOU COULDN'T WORK ON THE SABBATH

SO A MAN WITH A WOODEN LEG

COULD NOT WALK ON THE SABBATH

BECAUSE THE LEG WAS A BURDEN

AND THEREFORE WALKING WAS WORK

IF YOU WERE HURT

YOU COULD BANDAGE THE WOUND

BUT YOU COULDN'T PUT MEDICINE ON THE WOUND

BECAUSE THAT WAS WORK

ALSO IF A GENTILE WOMAN WAS HAVING A BABY

YOU COULDN'T HELP HER

BECAUSE SHE WAS NOT ONE OF THE CHOSEN PEOPLE

TO WHOM THE LAW HAD BEEN GIVEN

THE SCRIBES AND THE PHARISEES

WERE CONSTANTLY STUDYING THE LAW

ADDING SOME REQUIREMENTS

TO DAILY LIVING

OR FORBIDDING

SOME ACTIONS

IN DAILY LIVING

YOU REMEMBER THAT JESUS WAS ACCUSED

OF BAD CONDUCT

WHEN HE HEALED PEOPLE ON THE SABBATH DAY

BECAUSE HEALING WAS WORK

AND SUCH WORK ON SABBATH WAS FORBIDDEN

BY THE LEADERS

A DISTORTION OF THE LAW

THEY OPPRESSED THE PEOPLE SO MUCH

WITH THESE LAWS

THAT JESUS CRIED OUT

YOU MAKE UP HEAVY BURDENS

FOR MEN TO CARRY

BUT DO NOTHING

TO HELP THEM CARRY

THEIR BURDENS

OR AGAIN JESUS CRIED OUT

THE LAW EXISTS FOR THE PEOPLE

NOT THE PEOPLE FOR THE LAW

SO NICODEMUS

A GOOD MAN

BURDENED DOWN BY LAWS

HE COULD NOT KEEP

OR FOUND DIFFICULT

COMES IN THE NIGHT

TO FIND THE LIGHT

WHO COMES IN THE NIGHT

TO HAVE HIS BURDEN LIGHTENED

AND JESUS SAYS TO HIM

JESUS SAYS TO HIM

BE BORN AGAIN

HOW MANY TIMES

HAVE WE SAID

IN OUR OWN LIFE

I AM TIRED OF THE WAY THINGS ARE

I AM GOING TO TRY TO CHANGE MY LIFE

I WILL BE REBORN

BUT HOW WE SAY

WITH NICODEMUS

HOW CAN WE BE REBORN

AND JESUS SAYS

BY THE WATER AND THE SPIRIT

OF YOUR OWN BAPTISM

BY THAT BAPTISM

YOU HAVE RECEIVED

REBIRTH

YOU HAVE BEEN REBORN

BUT

HAVING BEEN GIVEN SUCH A GIFT

WE FEEL UNWORTHY

WE CANNOT MEASURE UP TO THE MARK

WE CANNOT FILL THE MONEY LENDER'S

PURSE

UNWORTHY OF THE GIFT OF REBIRTH

WE FEEL THAT WE WILL BE CRUSHED

BY ITS WEIGHT

BY ITS OBLIGATIONS

BUT JESUS SAYS

MY FATHER SO LOVED THE WORLD

HE SENT ME

HE SENT ME

TO SAVE IT

AND ANYONE WHO BELIEVES IN ME

BELIEVES IN THE FATHER

AND WILL RECEIVE ETERNAL LIFE

BUT THE GIFT IS TOO GREAT

TOO GREAT FOR US

WHO ARE TOO SMALL

HOW CAN WE EVER REPAY YOU

BELIEVE IN ME

IS ALL I ASK

BELIEVE

AND LET YOUR LIFE FLOW

FROM THAT BELIEF

BELIEVE IN ME

BUT WE SHALL STUMBLE

BELIEVE IN ME

BUT WE ARE WEAK

BELIEVE IN ME

BUT WE ARE UNWORTHY

BELIEVE IN ME

BUT WE ARE SINNERS

I HAVE FORGIVEN YOU

SO WHEN THE TEMPTER COMES

AS COME HE WILL

TO MAKE YOU DOUBT

YOUR BELIEFS

TO MAKE YOU FEEL

UNLOVED AND UNWANTED BY GOD

TELL THE TEMPTER

WITH HIS OPEN PURSE

TELL THE TEMPTER

MY DEBT HAS BEEN PAID

MY DEBT HAS BEEN PAID BY JESUS

WHO DID NOT PAY

THE GREAT PRICE HE PAID

SO THAT LATER HE COULD DESTROY ME

AS YOU ARE TRYING TO DESTROY ME

TELL THE TEMPTER

WHEN HE COMES

TELL THAT MONEY LENDER

WITH HIS OPEN PURSE

CLOSE YOUR PURSE

AND MARK MY BILL

PAID IN FULL BY JESUS

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WOMAN AT THE WELL

WOMAN AT THE WELL

TO BEGIN

SHE WAS A WOMAN

SHE HAD NO RIGHTS

EXCEPT THAT GIVEN BY THE MAN WHO OWNED HER

HUSBAND

FATHER

BROTHER

UNCLE

DOWN THE FAMILY TREE

A JEWISH MAN
DID NOT WILLINGLY SPEAK TO A WOMAN
NOT HIS KIN

IN FACT HIS MORNING PRAYER WAS

THANK YOU GOD FOR NOT MAKING ME
A WOMAN
SLAVE
OR GENTILE

BESIDE THAT SHE WAS A SAMARITAN
LOWER THAN A WOMAN
ALMOST A NON-PERSON

BUT THIS JEWISH GENTLE MAN
HAD APPROACHED HER
WHILE SHE WAS AT THE WELL
AND ASKED HER FOR A DRINK

WHAT SURPRISED HER
BEYOND A JEW TALKING TO A GENTILE
WAS THAT HE ASKED HER FOR A DRINK POLITELY

SHE’D BEEN USE TO BEING ORDERED ABOUT
NOT ALWAYS CIVILLY
AND NEVER WITH A PLEASE

HOW CAN YOU A JEW SPEAK TO ME

IS YOUR THIRST THAT GREAT
 

IF YOU KNEW WHO I AM
YOU’D KNOW
I CAN GIVE YOU LIVING WATER

ONE WHO DRINKS OF IT WILL NEVER THIRST

YOU HAVE NO PITCHER
AND THE WELL IS DEEP
HOW CAN YOU GIVE ME
THIS LIVING WATER

BUT IF YOU CAN
GIVE ME SOME
SO I CAN STOP COMING TO THIS WELL

GET YOUR HUSBAND

I HAVE NO HUSBAND

YOU HAVE HAD FIVE

BUT YOUR PRESENT MAN
IS NOT YOUR HUSBAND

ARE YOU A PROPHET
OR BETTER THE MESSIAH

TELL ME WHICH TEMPLE IS BETTER
OUR OR YOURS

BOTH TEMPLES
ARE GOING AWAY

FOR GOD WILL BE WORSHIPPED
AS HE CHOOSES

FOR
GOD IS SPIRIT
 AND HIS WORSHIPERS
MUST WORSHIP
IN THE SPIRIT
 AND IN TRUTH

BUT WHEN WILL MESSIAH COME

THE ONE WHO SPEAKS TO YOU
IS HE
 

HOW MANY TIMES IN OUR ORDINARY LIFE
DOING MUNDANE THINGS
LIKE GOING FOR WATER
DO WE MEET JESUS

AND REFUSE HIM A DRINK
OR THE TIME OF DAY

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(JOHN 9:1-5)

IT HAPPENS

Ecclesiastes 9:11-12

 I have seen something else under the sun:

   The race is not to the swift 

   or the battle to the strong, 

nor does food come to the wise 

   or wealth to the brilliant 

   or favor to the learned; 

but time and chance happen to them all.

 Moreover, no one knows when their hour will come:

   As fish are caught in a cruel net, 

   or birds are taken in a snare, 

so people are trapped by evil times 

   that fall unexpectedly upon them.

Ezekiel 7:8-9

  I am about to pour out my wrath on you and spend my anger against you; I will judge you according to your conduct and repay you for all your detestable practices.  I will not look on you with pity or spare you; I will repay you in accordance with your conduct and the detestable practices among you. Then you will know that it is I the LORD who strikes the blow.

John 9:3-5

    “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work.  While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

A BETTER TRANSLATION OF JOHN 9

MIGHT BE

NEITHER

IT HAPPENS

BUT GOD CAN USE THIS MISFORTUNE

TO PROVE HIS GLORY

THERE IS A RUDE BUMPER STICKER

WHICH SAYS IT BETTER

WHICH IF WE WEREN’T SO PRUDISH

WE MIGHT HAVE CHRIST SAY

IT HAPPENS

BETTER THAN THE PIOUS MONSTROSITIES

WE SAY

WHEN MISFORTUNE HIT

IT HAPPENS

SOUND SHALLOW

BUT IT’S ALL A CREATOR CAN DO

WHO GAVE HIS CREATURES

DOMAIN OVER CREATION

DO I BELIEVE IN MIRACLES

YES

BUT SIX MILLION JEWS

PRAYED FOR LIFE

GOD WAS SILENT

THEY DIED

IT HAPPENS

THERE IS A MYTHIC TALE

THAT CAMP PRISONERS

PUT GOD ON TRIAL FOR THAT SILENCE

AND FOUND HIM GUILTY

AFTER THE VERDICT

THEY HAD EVENING PRAYER

IT DIDN’T CHANGE THE CIRCUMSTANCES

IT CHANGED THE PRAY-ER

AND SPEAKING OF THAT SILENCE

WE HAVE THOSE WHO SAY THAT GOD

IS PUNISHING US FOR HOMOSEXUAL BEHAVIOR

WHY WASN’T HE ACTIVE DURING THE HOLOCAUST

AND ALL THE HOLOCAUSTS

PAST AND PRESENT

SEX ACTS………ABOMINATION

MURDER…………NOT SO BAD

FOR THOSE WHO CRITICIZE GOD 

FOR HIS MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES

OR LACK OF

CONSIDER

IF HE RAN THE WORLD

ACCORDING TO OUR STANDARDS

WE’D BE PRETTY QUICK

TO PRAY FOR A RETURN

TO THE OLD WAY

IT HAPPENS

C’EST LA VIE

THAT’S THE WAY THE COOKIE CRUMBLES

HARSH WORDS

WHEN ONE SEEKS COMFORT

TRUE WORDS

WHEN ONE SEEKS FANTASY

WHY DO BAD THINGS

HAPPEN TO THE GOOD

IT’S A PUZZLEMENT

I DO NOT CLAIM THE ANSWER

BUT TO SAY THAT GOD ALLOWS IT WILLINGLY

HURTS MY IMAGE OF GOD

WHO WEEPS WHEN MISFORTUNE FALLS ON US 

WHICH WE CREATED

WHO WEEPS WHEN MISFORTUNE HITS

WHICH WE HAVE NOT CREATED

WHO LOVES US

GOOD TIME

AND BAD

WHO SEES OUR SINS

THEIR AFTERMATH

AND HATES BOTH

WHO SEES OUR HARD TIMES

OUR MISFORTUNE

AND IS SORRY FOR BOTH

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(John 11:43)

WHEN JESUS CAME TO BETHANY

TO THE TOMB

OF HIS FRIEND

LAZARUS

HE CRIED

NO PLATITUDES

NO EASY SAYING

OF HIS BEING IN A BETTER PLACE

NO REMINDERS OF ETERNAL LIFE

HE CRIED

AS ONLY ONE WHO LOVED

AS DEEPLY AS HE LOVED

COULD CRY

HE CRIED

HE FELT THE DEEP

AND EVER WIDENING CHASM

OF SEPARATION

HE FELT THAT THE SOUL OF HIS FRIEND

WAS LIKE A SHIP LEAVING THE SHORE

SENDING BACK RIPPLES OF REMEMBRANCE

SENDING BACK ECHOES OF OLD CONVERSATIONS

SENDING THEM BACK WITH NO WAY TO ANSWER

PEACE WOULD COME LATER

BUT FOR THE INSTANT

THERE WAS PAIN

TEARS

THE GREAT UNKNOWING

AND TO NEED TO WEEP

BUT IN THE DESOLATION

OF THE MOMENT

HEARTFELT WITH LONELINESS

HE CRIED OUT

LAZARUS COME OUT

AND LAZARUS

CAME OUT

LIKE A SACK RACE RUNNER

AND JESUS

EYES SPARKLING

THOUGHT

LIKE ONE FRIEND

JOSHING ANOTHER

HOP TO IT

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(John 12:13)

Isn't it sad, that in a time when we face so many devastating problems – poverty, HIV/AIDS, war and conflict – that in our Communion we should be investing so much time and energy on disagreement about sexual orientation?" Archbishop Tutu

I don't preach a social gospel; I preach the Gospel, period. The gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ is concerned for the whole person. When people were hungry, Jesus didn't say, "Now is that political or social?" He said, "I feed you." Because the good news to a hungry person is bread. Archbishop Tutu

WHEN JESUS RODE INTO JERUSALEM

ON A DONKEY HE'D BORROWED FOR THE OCCASION

HEARING HOSANNAS

AND SEEING THE PALM BRANCHES STREWN IN HIS WAY

HE HEARD UNDERNEATH

THE SNICKERING OF SOME

TEACHER GET YOUR DISCIPLES UNDER CONTROL

IT’S UNLAWFUL TO BE JOYFUL

IF I SHOULD QUIET THEM

THE VERY STONES WOULD SING

BUT THE HOLY PEOPLE

THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS

THE GOOD PEOPLE

CALLED OUT

SEEING THE JOY OF THE CROWD

CRIED

IT’S OUT OF CONTROL

IT’S A STAMPEDE

WE WANT THEM WORRIED

ABOUT RELIGIOUS MINUTIAE

NOT THE FREEDOM HE TALKS ABOUT

HE MUST BE STOPPED

BEFORE ALL WE STAND FOR DIES

IT WOULD BE NICE TO SAY

THAT THE PROPHECY IS TRUE

THAT THE PHARISEES ARE DEAD

BUT THEY ARE STILL WITH US

WORRYING ABOUT MINUTIAE

WHILE CHILDREN STARVE

WHERE IS OUR SENSE OF VALUES

WHILE JESUS RIDES TO HIS DEATH

AND THE MOOD OF THE CROWD WILL CHANGE

YET HE RIDES TO BRING ABOUT OUR SALVATION

AND ASKS US TO MAKE HIS SACRIFICE WORTHWHILE