Gentle Rebuke

GENTLE REBUKE

SO QUICKLY HAD HE SPOKE
IMPULSIVE PETER
SO QUICKLY HAD HE SPOKE
THE WORDS WERE OUT
BEFORE HE HAD TIME TO THINK
BUT OUT OF HIS LOVE FOR HIS FRIEND
AND THE IMPACT
OF THE WORDS HE HAD SAID
I MUST GO TO JERUSALEM AND DIE

HE PUT HIS ARM AROUND JESUS
AND DREW HIM TO HIMSELF
SHELTERING
AND SAID
IT MUST NOT BE

AND JESUS HEARTBROKEN
BECAUSE PETER
STILL
WAS UNAWARE OF HIS MISSION
SAID SOFTLY
GET BEHIND ME SATAN

GET BEHIND ME SATAN
ADVICE GIVEN A CHILD BY A PARENT
DON'T STUDY FOR THE MINISTRY
THERE’S NO FUTURE
LONG HOURS
AND LOW WAGES
SHELTERING THE CHILD

OR THOSE
WATCHING BOX CARS
RATTLING ACROSS EUROPE
FILLED WITH HUMANITY
AND SAYING NOTHING

OR PREACHERS
PREACHING BROTHERHOOD
IN A SEGREGATED CHURCH
WHILE DISMAS
WAS UNDER THE TABLE
BEGGING CRUMBS

OR WORKMEN
AFTER YEARS OF SERVICE
FINDING NO PENSION
WHILE CEOS MAKE MILLIONS
WHERE IS THE CRY FOR JUSTICE
MUTED BY THOSE WHO HAVE

AND JESUS SAYS
GET BEHIND ME SATAN
UNLESS A MAN
IS WILLING TO TAKE A STAND
AND SUFFER WITH ME
HE IS NOT WORTHY OF ME

JESUS SAYS
GIVE ME PEOPLE
LIKE MOTHER TERESA
MAHATMA GANDHI
DIETRICH BONHOEFFER
DOROTHY DAY
DANIEL BERRIGAN
JOHN XXIII

TAKE YOUR ARM FROM AROUND ME
I AM NOT A TOY
OR PRETTY FEELING
TO BE SHELTERED FROM THE STORM

I KNOW YOU LOVE ME
BUT YOUR ARM AROUND ME HINDERS ME
I NEED TO STRETCH
MY ARMS OUT
FOR THE CROSS
I AM YOUR FRIEND
WHO DOES NOT SHIRK
FROM EMPTYING HIMSELF
AND DYING ON A CROSS


FRANK A VOLLMER