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When the longed-for Lion of Judah
insisted on being the Lamb of God,
when the Messiah we got
was not the Messiah we wanted,
when he would not play along
with our deceptions and self-justifications –
personal and communal,
when he would not affirm
our fear-filled desire for power,
when he would not bless
our lust for violence,
when he would not wreak vengeance
on our enemies;
what could we do
but avenge ourselves,
and kill him?
Will we ever forgive him
for even then
looking—seeing—looking
at us,
at them,
and saying,
"Father forgive"?
when the Messiah we got
was not the Messiah we wanted,
when he would not play along
with our deceptions and self-justifications –
personal and communal,
when he would not affirm
our fear-filled desire for power,
when he would not bless
our lust for violence,
when he would not wreak vengeance
on our enemies;
what could we do
but avenge ourselves,
and kill him?
for even then
looking—seeing—looking
at us,
at them,
and saying,
"Father forgive"?
(Crucifix from St. James Episcopal Church
Manitowoc, Wisconsin)
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