Paths

THE STARS
UPON A PATH
MADE BY GOD'S
GREAT "BEGIN"
MOVED TO FORM A WONDER
THAT WISE MEN FOUND ATTRACTIVE
THEY SOUGHT TO SEEK ITS MEANING
IT DROVE THEM FROM COMFORTABLE BEDS
UPON A JOURNEY
TO DISCOVER
A NEW
BEGINNING
IN THEIR WORLD
AND IN THEMSELVES
THEY WERE USED TO DEALING WITH KINGS
THEY DEALT WITH HEROD HANDILY
BUT THE CHILD KING
LEFT THEM WONDERING
AS THEY HELD THE CENTER ON THE UNIVERSE
AND HOPED HE WOULD NOT CRY
THOUGH SOMEHOW THEY KNEW
THAT HIS VOICE
WOULD NOT BE
A VOICE SHOUTING IN THE DESERT
BUT RATHER LIKE A RUSTLE OF LEAVES
OR SAND SIFTING DOWN A DUNE
CALLING MEN BACK TO THE BEGINNING
ALONG PATHS OF RETURN
LAID DOWN LONG AGO
WHEN GOD SAID
"BEGIN"

Palm Sunday

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


PALM SUNDAY


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

The Deep

BIRTH AND CONCEPTION ARE MESSY THINGS

THEY PUT YOU IN AN AWKWARD POSITION

SUITABLE BEGINNINGS FOR A PEOPLE

WHOSE LIVES ARE OFTEN MARKED

BY THINGS THAT GO BUMP IN THE NIGHT

SO MUCH OF LIFE IS MESSY

WE GET DIRTY FROM WORK OR PLAY

WE LOSE CONTROL OF OUR BODIES

AS WE GET OLD

WE HAD NO CONTROL

WHEN WE WERE YOUNG

WE WEEP AT HIGH EMOTION

OR IN SADNESS

EVEN EATING LEAVES A NAPKIN DIRTY

IT'S WHERE WE ARE

AND WHO WE ARE

SO JESUS

THE SYNAGOGUE

CLOSED TO HIM

SAT IN A BOAT

AND TOLD HOMEY STORIES

THE TEACHER

SAT IN A BOAT

REDOLENT

OF CATCHES PAST

OF SWEAT FROM WORKMAN NOW

THEY'D LABORED ALL NIGHTAND CAUGHT NOTHING

THEN HE SAID

PUSH OUT INTO THE DEEP

PUSH OUT

AND GO WHERE YOU ARE UNCOMFORTABLE

MASTER

WE HAVE LABORED ALL NIGHT

AND CAUGHT NOTHING

BUT AT YOUR WORD

WE WILL DO IT

SO THEY WENT TO THE DEEP

WHERE DEMONS DWELL

LETTING GO

LETTING GOD

AND CAUGHT FISH

THAT MADE THEM FORGET THEY WERE TIRED

AND CAUGHT FISH

BEYOND THEIR EXPERIENCE

AND CAUGHT MEN UP IN A DREAM

THAT FISH WOULD ALWAYS BE PLENTIFUL

AND THE DEEP WOULD HAVE NO DEMONS

THEY COULDN'T FACE

FRANK A VOLLMER

Seventh Sunday After Epiphany

IMAGINE IF YOU WILL
THAT YOU ARE JESUS
STANDING ON TOP OF A HIGH MOUNTAIN
ON THE NORTH SIDE
OF THE SEA OF GALILEE..
YOU ARE LOOKING DOWN
AT THE SEA OF GALILEE.
THE MOUNTAIN IS IN GALILEE.

LOOKING SOUTH
YOU SEE THE KINGDOM OF JUDEA
AND THE CAPITAL
JERUSALEM.

LOOKING EAST YOU SEE PEREA.
LOOKING WEST YOU SEE SAMARIA.
AND YOU ARE SAD
BECAUSE THERE IS MUCH HATRED
IN THE LAND.

THE PROMISED LAND
HAS BEEN CONQUERED BY ROME
AND DIVIDED INTO THE FOUR PARTS
OF GALILEE, JUDEA, SAMARIA AND PEREA.

THE JEWS HATE THE ROMANS
WHO ARE EVERYWHERE
ACTING AS POLICEMEN.

THE JEWS HATE THE SAMARITANS
AND THE PEREANS
BECAUSE THEY WORSHIP GOD
IN A NON JEWISH MANNER.




WE HAVE IN THIS SEASON OF EPIPHANY
FOLLOWED JESUS
AS HE BEGINS HIS PUBLIC MINISTRY.
JESUS LOOKS DOWN AT THE LAKE
AND AS HE DOES
HE LOOKS BACK IN TIME
AND REMEMBERS THE EVENTS
THAT WE REMEMBERED
AS THE SUNDAYS OF EPIPHANY
CAME AND WENT

THE READINGS FOR THE YEAR 2001
EPIPHANY SEASON
COME MOSTLY FROM LUKE.
THE SEQUENCE OF READINGS THIS YEAR
HAVE VISITED THESE SCENES
FROM THE LIFE OF JESUS.

FIRST WE VISITED EPIPHANY,
THE VISIT OF THE THREE WISE MEN.
THEN THE BAPTISM OF JESUS
WHERE GOD THE FATHER
DECLARED THAT JESUS WAS HIS SON.
THEN THE WEDDING AT CANA
WHERE HE CHANGED WATER INTO WINE.
THEN HIS FIRST SERMON AT NAZARETH
AND HIS REJECTION BY HIS NEIGHBORS.
THEN WE HAD THE MIRACLE OF THE FISHES
WHERE THE APOSTLES CAUGHT SO MANY
THE BOAT BEGAN TO SINK.
AND LAST WEEK
JESUS CAME DOWN FROM THE MOUNTAIN
AND PREACHED THE SERMON ON THE PLAIN
ALSO CALLED THE BEATITUDES.






LAST WEEK JESUS LOOKED DOWN
AT THE DIVIDED KINGDOM
AND WAS SADDENED.
THIS WAS NOT HIS FATHER’S DREAM
FOR THIS LAND
THIS PROMISED LAND
AND ITS PEOPLE.

RELIGION HAD BECOME
AN OBSERVANCE OF LAWS AND RITUALS.
THE PRIESTS ARGUED
OVER SUCH THINGS AS
CAN A MAN WITH A WOODEN LEG
WALK ON THE SABBATH
BECAUSE THE WOODEN LEG
WAS A BURDEN
AND ONE COULD NOT
CARRY A BURDEN
ON THE SABBATH
BECAUSE CARRYING A BURDEN
WAS WORK.

THE PERFORMANCE OF RITUAL
IN THE TEMPLE WAS SUCH
THAT
ON ANY PASSOVER
OVER 250,000 LAMBS WERE SOLD
AND SLAIN IN ONE DAY
MAKING GOD’S HOUSE
MORE A SLAUGHTER FACTORY
THAN A HOUSE OF GOD.

THIS IS WHAT HIS FATHER’S RELIGION
HAD BECOME
AND HE IS SADDENED.
SO LAST WEEK
HE SLOWLY COMEDOWN THE MOUNTAIN
AND PREACHED THE BEATITUDES.


LUKE HAS A SENTENCE
AT THE BEGINNING
OF THE BEATITUDES
THAT SAYS
THERE WERE PEOPLE
FROM SIDON AND TYRE
IN THE CROWD.
HE DID THIS DELIBERATELY
BECAUSE THE JEWS ALSO HATED
THOSE FROM SIDON AND TYRE

SO JESUS LOOKED AT THE CROWD
THAT HAD SO MUCH HATE
AND PREACHED A SERMON ON FORGIVENESS.
A SERMON, WHICH SAYS
IF ANYONE HITS YOU,
TURN THE OTHER CHEEK.
EASY TO SAY DIFFICULT TO DO.

JESUS SAYS
FORGIVE YOUR ENEMIES,
DO GOOD TO THOSE WHO HURT YOU.
WHEN EVERY PART OF YOUR BEING
SAYS MAKE A FIST
AND HURT YOUR ENEMY
JESUS SAYS LOVE THEM.
JESUS HAS GOT TO BE KIDDING HERE
RIGHT

BUT ULTIMATELY
JESUS IS RIGHT.
FOR WITHOUT FORGIVENESS
NATIONS WILL FIGHT
LONG PAST REMEMBERING
WHY THEY ARE FIGHTING,






NEIGHBORS WILL FIGHT
LONG PAST REMEMBERING
WHY THEY ARE FIGHTING,

FAMILIES WILL FIGHT
LONG PAST REMEMBERING
WHY THEY ARE FIGHTING

HUSBAND AND WIVES
WILL FIGHT
LONG PAST REMEMBERING
WHY THEY ARE FIGHTING,

BROTHERS AND SISTERS
YOUNG OR GROWN OLD
TILL NEAR DEATH
WILL FIGHT
LONG PAST REMEMBERING
WHY THEY ARE FIGHTING.

WHEN WILL IT END.
AS THE SONG SAYS
LET THERE BE PEACE ON EARTH
AND LET IT BEGIN WITH ME.

WHAT I WOULD LIKE YOU TO DO
RIGHT NOW
AS A REACTION TO JESUS' SERMON
IS WRITE DOWN WITH YOUR FINGER
ON THE PALM OF YOUR HAND
THE NAME OF THAT PERSON
YOU FIND IT HARD TO FORGIVE.

THEN RUB YOUR HANDS TOGETHER
AND ERASE THEIR NAME.
THINKING AS YOU DO IT
THEY ARE FORGIVEN.
TRY IT



LET GO THOSE CHUNKS OF ICE
WHICH WE ALL CARRY
THOSE CHUNKS OF ICE OF HATRED
WHICH WE ALL CARRY
LONG PAST REMEMBERING
WHY WE ARE CARRYING THEM

HARD YOU SAY.
TOO HARD.
AND I AGREE.
BUT IT IS JESUS
NOT ME
WHOM IS SPEAKING
WHEN HE SAYS
LOVE YOUR ENEMIES,
DO GOOD TO THEM,
LEND ACCORDING TO THEIR NEED
EXPECTING NOTHING BACK.
BE MERCIFUL
AS YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER IS MERCIFUL.
STILL TOO HARD.

LET ME PAINT YOU A PICTURE.
THERE IS A MAN WHO IS DYING.
CONDEMNED TO DEATH
FOR A CRIME
HE DIDN'T COMMIT.

CONDEMNED TO DEATH
OUT OF JEALOUSY
AND FEAR OF LOSING POWER.

ALL HIS FRIENDS
HAVE DESERTED HIM
OUT OF FEAR.






ONE OF HIS FRIENDS
HAS SOLD HIM FOR A PRICE.
ONE OF HIS FRIENDS DENIED
HE EVER KNEW HIM.

HIS HEART
WHICH IS STRUGGLING
TO STAY ALIVE
IS STILL FILLED WITH LOVE
FOR ALL MANKIND.

AND HE IS GIVING THINGS AWAY.
HE WILL DIE POOR.

HIS CLOTHES ARE GONE.
HE HAS GIVEN HIS MOTHER
TO THE CARE OF HIS FRIEND JOHN.

NOW HE GIVES AWAY HIS ANGER.
STRUGGLING UPRIGHT ON THE NAILS
HE CRIES OUT
FATHER FORGIVE THEM
THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO.

FORGIVE THE RULERS
OF TEMPLE AND STATE,
FORGIVE THE SOLDIERS
WHO WERE CRUEL TO ME,
FORGIVE THE CROWD
GATHERED LIKE VULTURES
TO SEE ME DIE,
FORGIVE THE THIEF WHO CURSED ME
FORGIVE ALL
WHO HAVE DESERTED ME,
LIED ABOUT ME,
SOLD ME FOR A PRICE






JESUS
LOOKING DOWN FROM HIS HIGH PLACE
ON THE CROSS
LOOKING DOWN THE YEARS
FORGIVING ALL WHO HAD EVER LIVED,
WHO WERE LIVING THEN
WHO WOULD LIVE IN THE FUTURE.

LOOKING DOWN FROM HIS HIGH PLACE
HE COMES TO THIS ROOM
AND CRIES OUT
FATHER FORGIVE FRANK
AND BARBARA,
JOE AND TOM,
ALICE AND JAN,
FATHER FORGIVE ALL
FROM EMANUEL IN WARWICK,
FATHER FORGIVE ALL
FROM FIRST LUTHERAN
IN BROCKTON,
FATHER FORGIVE ALL
FROM ST JOHN’S
IN PEABODY,

AND WE CRY IN RESPONSE
FATHER FORGIVE US
AND FORGIVE THE ONE
WE FIND IT HARD
TO FORGIVE
WE
AND THEY
KNOW NOT WHAT WE DO.



IN THE LIGHT OF OUR FORGIVENESS
CAN WE NOT TAKE
THE NAME OF THAT ONE PERSON
WE FIND IT HARD TO FORGIVE.
WRITE IT ON THE PALM OF OUR HAND.
RUB OUR HANDS TOGETHER
TO MAKE IT DISAPPEAR.

AND SAY TO THAT PERSON
THAT CHUNK OF ICE
THAT I HAVE CARRIED
WITH YOUR NAME ON IT
IS MELTED.
I FORGIVE YOU

AND JESUS SAYS
WELL DONE MY BROTHERS
AND SISTERS
WELL DONE

IN YOU
I AM WELL PLEASED.
MAY IT BE SO AMEN

Money for War

MONEY FOR WAR
THE GREAT MAN SAID

WE MUST HAVE MONEY FOR WAR

LET THE SICK BE SICK
AND THE POOR BE POOR
WE MUST HAVE MONEY
FOR WAR

AS EVERY GOOD CHRISTIAN NATION SHOULD
BATTLING THOSE WHO DISAGREE WITH US
WHOSE GODS HAVE DIFFERENT NAMES
WHOSE LANDS ARE RICH IN MATERIALS WE COVET
WE MUST SAVE THEM BY DESTROYING THEM
AND OURSELVES

JESUS SAID
PUT UP THE SWORD
AND WE SPIN A THOUSAND PHILOSOPHIES
WHY WE SHOULDN'T

CHRIST SAID LOVE YOUR ENEMIES
AND WE HAVE BODY COUNTS
AND COLLATERAL DAMAGE

WE FIGHT MIDGETS
AND LET THE GIANTS GET AWAY

WE FIGHT IN THE NAME OF SOME STERN GOD
WHO DOESN'T LOVE HIS CREATION

WE SAVE CHILDREN IN THE WOMB
TO SEND THEM OFF TO WAR
WARS WE OFTEN BROUGHT UPON OURSELVES
WE HAVE TAUGHT THE ENEMY WELL

IN A WORLD
WHERE WE OFTEN
CANNOT CHOOSE GOOD
BUT A CHOICE BETWEEN EVILS
AND WHERE WE HAVE TO CHOOSE EVIL
TO NOT BE HAPPY WITH THE CHOICE

FRANK A VOLLMER

Galatians

GALATIANS


I WOULDN'T INVITE HIM TO MY PARTY
PAUL I MEAN
I WOULDN'T INVITE HIM TO MY PARTY
I'D GROW WEARY
OF ALWAYS IN YOUR FACE CONFRONTATION
OF ALWAYS BEING RIGHT

MY SELF
I LIKE HEROES
WITH WEAKNESS

I
CAN IDENTIFY WITH THEM

SO I WONDER
DID THE OTHER APOSTLES
WHEN ALL THE T’S WERE CROSSED
AND ALL THE I’S WERE DOTTED
DID THE HUMBLE FISHERMEN
SAY TO THE LEARNED SCHOLAR
REMEMBER THE POOR

IF WE FORGET THE POOR
THEN ALL OUR SCHOLARSHIP
IS NOTHING
BUT A RESOUNDING GONG
OR A CLANGING CYMBAL

REMEMBER THE POOR


FRANK A VOLLMER

Galatians II

GALATIANS II


I HAVE A LOVE/HATE RELATIONSHIP WITH PAUL
I FIND HIM TIRING
BOASTFUL
ALWAYS RIGHT

SAY GOOD MORNING
HE GIVES YOU A LECTURE
ON THE WEATHER

BUT CAPABLE
OF AN INCANDESCENT BEAUTY
OF LANGUAGE

SO WHEN HE SAYS
I WITHSTOOD CEPHAS
TO HIS FACE
I IMMEDIATELY
THOUGHT
OF LUTHER’S ADMONITION

We should fear and love God that we may not deceitfully belie, betray, slander, or defame our neighbor, but defend him, [think and] speak well of him, and put the best construction on everything.

I FURTHER THOUGHT
HE’S TALKING OUT OF BOTH SIDES
OF HIS MOUTH
FOR IN ROMAN’S HE SAID

If your brother is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love


AND IN CORINTHIANS HE SAID


Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to fall


SO IF CEPHAS
IS FOLLOWING PAUL
IS ACTING OUT OF CHARITY
I FIND PAUL AT FAULT

BUT CEPHAS
WITH PAUL’S FINGER IN HIS FACE
HOW DOES HE ACT

THIS POOR DUMB FISHERMAN
THIS POOR DUMB EVERYMAN

HE LISTENS
HE DOES NOT REACT ANGRILY
HE LISTENS AND AGREES
NO LOUD ARGUMENTS
OF BEING RIGHT

THOUGH HE'D RATHER
PAUL
HAD HEEDED
THE MASTER’S VOICE
WHEN HE SAID

If your brother sins, reprove him in private


FRANK A VOLLMER