AWE-some poetry

from the Lutheran Urban Mission Society newsletter:

Power and Great Glory by James Henson

"In power and great glory."
We misunderstood the first time.
The lawyers and the priests had his
role ready for him.
They sought to contain him like a
map contains the world.
How upset we were when the world
wasn't flat.
How angry we were when he
overturned outdated rules like tables
in the temple.
How furious we were when the god
we expected to grant our ego's whim
Fulfilled our every soul's desire.

The second time the consciousness
arrives
Great glory. Christ manifests.
His body is found among the gays or
Asians or whoever irritates the most
So we can name the hate we don't
equate with wishing they were
different.
God is before you in every story, joy
and pain.
I mistake him again. In my ego's
ecstasy, afraid,
I stake him on the cross again so I
can keep an eye on him.
I want him in the chapel, nailed, so I
can keep an eye on him.
How dare he dance in the street, lack
feet prancing?
I can't recognize him.

Wake. Christ is before you now:
Christ within and Christ without.
Shout Hosanna, know Your name.
You're one with him and I the same.
Yes!
Every knee shall bend, but not in
pain; there's no compulsion and no
stain:
For when a heart is filled with love
and fear departs and comfort comes
Bodies follow in response and bow in
bliss and gratefulness.
Yes every mouth will open in acclaim
the Son of God is come again-
Just as flowers open to the sun
We add enlightened voices in refrain.
The Son of God, the Son of Man is
here with us,
He comes Again.