A Poem a Sunday

Reformation Sunday

October 26, 2017

St. John 8:31-36 - NRSV

True Disciples

31 Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” 33 They answered him, “We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean by saying, ‘You will be made free’?”

34 Jesus answered them, “Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. 35 The slave does not have a permanent place in the household; the son has a place there forever. 36 So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.

On the Freedom of a Christian

"A Christian is a perfectly free lord of all, subject to none. A Christian is a perfectly dutiful servant of all, subject to all." Martin Luther

Slave:

Stands for the Empire’s Anthem;

ancestors never slaves! (to anyone!);

thinking they live in freedom

blissfully enraged.

Free:

Kneels for the Empire’s Anthem;

ancestors chained – enslaved;

humbly defiant of injustice

prophetically engaged.

What will it take

for the privileged white folk

to be free?

Only our black sisters

and brothers can lead us

to true harmony.

Kneel

at the sight

of the Empire.

Defy

its ignorance

and those

who lie

to maintain

their privilege

and remain

slaves

to

their unseen

foe.

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