The Messiah Walks Among us

The Messiah Walks among us

He ministers in Aids clinics

He attends Seders in Shul

He prays on a rug in the mosque

And meditates in Ashrams

He leaves invisible footprints

we can follow if we choose to see.

 

The Messiah walks among us

Barefoot in the back of the bus

He's been spotted sitting next to your grandmother

and talking to your autistic brother.

 

The Messiah has been seen wandering the streets of calcutta

And among the slumdogs in Bombay

He wanders barefoot in Nairobi

and shelter's women from Al Shabaab

He saves children from Christian Militias

and turns diamonds back into coal

His miracles are simple things

like restoring an orphan child's sight.

He is the friend to the humble

But is offended by those who call his name in vain.

And do deeds that are offensive in his sight

 

The Messiah wanders the ruins of Gaza

Performing miracles to save children from bombs.

He has saved Bosnian Muslims from Serbs

And Serbians from Croatians.

The Messiah rescues Jews from murder

And hears the pleas of all the children.

But he is offended by the prayers of the arrogant

Who dare to preach war in his name.

When it is their turn to pray, he will ignore their pleas.

 

The Messiah walks the world

Carrying refugees on his back.

He ferries them across the Rio Grand

And washes them in the Jordan.

He walks across the seas

preaching a brotherhood of man.

Borders are meaningless to him.

 

The Messiah knows the game

And his greatest source of shame

are the scoundrels who make the claim

they are teaching in his name.

He knows they know who they are

And he prays they will seek redemption

Before they fall into the pit of their own lies

 

The Messiah is there in your church

Though more likely in the back than in the front.

He is teaching in all the schools

Though those who hear him rarely preach.

 

He speaks to anyone who:

listens with his inner ear

casts out demons of hate,

and lets go of blinding fear

 

He ignores those who pretend to see him.

And strikes the hypocrites blind who ignore his lessons.

The Messiah is here, he walks among us.

And those who ignore him, will pay for their crimes.

But those who deliberately distort his teachings earn a place in hell.

 

Christopher H. Holte

This poem is a follow up to "Oh Jesus" and in the same theme. It is part of the series "The Burning Bush".

Related poems:

http://fraughtwithperil.com/cholte/2013/09/14/no-burning-bush/

The Burning Bush -- Christmas Truce

The Burning Bush [the-burning-bush.html]

"Oh Jesus"

The Cage [burning-bush-cage.html]

From older blog at "Fraught with Peril":

http://fraughtwithperil.com/cholte/2006/06/28/burning-bushes-and-warring-ones/