The greatest among you must be your servant. – Mt 23:11
Rabbi, your lessons are hard
who will follow you
when you teach
buy high and sell low
who will follow you
when professing belief
is not enough
who will follow you
when one must practice
what one preaches
who will follow you
when the kingdom of God
comes through the cross
Rabbi, your lessons are not
those of this world
if my Master serves me
whom should i serve
speak Lord
your servant is
listening
“Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” – Mt 22:36
the answer has always been
love – the verb
and not love – the noun
love is not a noun
an idea : ideal : concept
something to inscribe on a scroll
and hang on a wall
love is not a feeling or sentiment
to espouse in an essay
or glorify in a poem
love is an action verb
it has a subject and an object
it implies an action by the subject
and a reaction by the object
it implies a transformation
where the object becomes the subject
it implies transactions
it implies multiple transactions
it implies a relationship
between the subject and object
yet
if the heart is hardened
if one does not love
it does not matter what the law is
or what the prophet proclaims
the mouth may speak the law
but the actions do not
the answer has always been
love – the action verb
hence the incarnation
the transfiguration
the crucifixion
the resurrection
these are all acts of love
not commandments chiseled
on stone tablets
to be lost to the ages
the answer is loving
When he saw her, he rent his garments and said, “Alas, daughter, you have struck me down and brought calamity upon me. For I have made a vow to the LORD and I cannot retract.” – Jgs 11:35
Then the king said to his attendants, “Bind his hands and feet, and cast him into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.” – Mt 22:13
there is wailing and grinding of teeth
my heart cries out for you
my Lord and my God
the bride has rejected the groom
the chosen has rejected the gift
how many times have i rejected you
the chosen are a barbaric lot
we understand only one thing
sacrifice for offering
my heart cries out for you
my Lord and my God
there will be wailing and grinding of teeth
Or am I not free to do as I wish with my own money? – Mt 20:15
all good things flow from you
your providence knows no bound
yet we act as if there’s a limit
to your generosity
there’s a place for everyone
at your table
yet we act as if our place
is affected by the presence
of many others
little do we realize that
when we place our wants
above the need of others
when we exclude others
we are excluding you and
we are excluding ourselves
from the table
Gideon answered him, “If I find favor with you, give me a sign that you are speaking with me.” Jgs 6:17
Then Peter said to him in reply, “We have given up everything and followed you.
What will there be for us?” – Mt 19:27
listen
oh you of little faith
I AM WHO AM
why must you always ask
for outward signs
be still
know that I am
with you always
if you must have a sign
look inward
sense
the river of compassion
rising in you
believe
it is the water of salvation
flowing from the Temple
I will remain with you
till the end
Longing For Water 