POEM FOR THE SUNDAY LECTIONARY (PENTECOST +9, YR. C)

THIEF
(Luke 12:32-40)

“If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Human One is coming at an unexpected hour.”

Break in, O holy thief.

Break into our guarded home.
Defeat the locks we fasten
against your love.

We brick the gates against justice.
We slam the doors to loving.
Our window drapes are heavy and pulled
to block the light of your peace.

O thief, break into our fortress.
Come while we doze in complacency.
Come while we sleep in our negligence.
Come while our eyes are closed to the world
that so needs us to change behaviour.

Break in.
Break in, and bring the poor in with you.
Break in, and bring the stranger.
Break in, and bring the challenges we fear,
the ones we would rather ignore.

Break in, O thief, break open these hearts
that should have invited you
long ago.

^{Copyright ©2019 by Andrew King}

DECLARATION

in memory of the Tree Of Life synagogue victims
Oct. 27, 2018

Today let there be sounded one sorrow,
sorrow from the depths of all loving,
sorrow in the unity of all caring,
sorrow for the lost and for the hurting,
and may it sound as a summons and call.

Today let there be constructed one city,
built of the bricks of compassion,
grounded on the bedrock of justice,
opening its doors toward kindness,
with welcome in place of a wall.

Today let there be united one people,
hearts beating one blood through all bodies,
hands holding hands in one commitment,
heads turned to the light of one horizon,
the horizon of wholeness and peace meant for all.

^{Copyright ©2018 by Andrew King}