Jesus…The New Testament

Jesus…The New Testament
An Ordinary Man named Jesus

What ?
Ordinary you would call THIS man?

There are many tales
of THIS man’s life…
Stories written, inscribed,
‘bound’ together LONG after
his time.

So much written
that is NOT factual
yet, ‘held’ as truth.

Some hold THIS understanding
trying each day to live
the faith of THIS ordinary man.

Still others ‘use’/misuse
THIS man’s life
creating ANYTHING
but what he exemplified.

We do know
facts springing from
THIS man’s public ministry.

THIS Jesus
set off on foot
sharing ‘parables.’

He asked questions:
“Who do people say I am?”
“Whose face is on that coin?”
“Which brother did what his father asked?”
“Who did you go out to see?”

Many times he remained
‘silent.’
NEVER let
anyone tell you silence
does NOT speak.

He NEVER went about
promoting himself as
the Messiah.

He healed many
THIS Jesus
and would often
say, “Don’t tell anyone.”

Many in his time proclaimed
themselves healers & Messiahs
asking for payment
upon services rendered.

THIS Ordinary Man
simply said, “Follow Me.”

He ‘often’ spoke with
women—countless
NAMELESS women
who opened THIS
ordinary man’s eyes.

Could he have been married?
‘Shaky’ ground we are treading.
It would have been un-ordinary
for a 30+ year old Jewish male
NOT to have been.
More would have been written
had he not been.

Would it matter?
Would it change how you
have come to know him?

The Wedding at Cana—
His first recorded miracle.
Could it have been__________?
Why would his mother
come to THIS Jesus
regarding the wine running out.
A mother’s concern—
would it NOT be if it were ONLY her son’s wedding?

THIS man
challenged the systems of
his day.

He took tremendous risks.
He devoted himself to those
who had little.
Isn’t this why he turned over
the money tables in the
Temple?

The ‘little’ monies people had
the religious zealots would
ban the people from using—
Why?  Because Roman monies held
Caesar’s face on the coins…

The people were told it was pagan monies
and they were made to cash them in for shekels.
What was received—its value was less.
(Ah, but the religious system was
in harmony with the politics of the day—
tax exemptions…are we really
different today?)

He saw the corruption.
He named the injustice.
He spoke of love

AND—to those who set out
to take his life

—He did not establish armies
—He did not build walls to ‘protect.’

Rather, he stretched out his arms
like a mother hen
gathering her brood
and said, “Forgive them for they
know NOT what they do.”

THIS man transformed our
understanding of death.

THIS man’s suffering
revealed a LIGHT
within which we ALL live.

An eternal JOY
surpasses human understanding.

THIS Ordinary Man…Jesus
echoed he is with us.

Believe it or NOT

We dwell in this Cosmic Mystery.
THIS Christ Consciousness
THIS Divine Temple of Creation
Incarnate before any eye
ever open to its vast
grandeur.

THIS ordinary man Jesus
called out to Abba (Father).

Remember the ‘time,’ the history
of his day.

THIS ordinary man—ALIVE in us today.

THIS Jesus invites us to
call out “Mother,” “Source of life,”
“Spirit”… “Nameless breath.”

If ONLY we would
expand our hearts.

THIS man said,
“We would do even greater things…”

If ONLY we trusted
we are ALL One
letting-go of fear
and following a
simple WAY—

LOVE.
“I believe in all that has never yet been spoken.
I want to free what waits within me
so that what no one has dared to wish for

may for once spring clear
without my contriving.

If this is arrogant, God, forgive me,
but this is what I need to say.
May what I do flow from me like a river,
no forcing and no holding back,
the way it is with children.

Then in these swelling and ebbing currents,
these deepening tides moving out, returning,
I will sing to you as no one ever has,
streaming through widening channels
into the open sea.”

~~~Rainer Maria Rilke~~~

2 replies
  1. Joan killoran
    Joan killoran says:

    I would like to use the poem
    Jesus- the New Testament
    With our mixed group of folks who have been listening to tapes on the New Testament.
    The poem by Rilke would also be helpful.
    Thank you for your many reflections in the past and for advising me re: use of these materials.
    Sr. joan Killoran,CSJ

    Reply

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