A new look at Resurrection
POEM AND PHOTO BY ED NORTHEN
[Luk 4:17-19] 17 And the scroll of Isaiah the prophet was handed to Him. And He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: 18 "THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO BRING GOOD NEWS TO THE POOR.HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED, 19 TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD."
Oh, death where is thy sting
Oh, grave where is thy victory
we who were once dead are made alive
the cost of new life
is death of the old
only then does resurrection unfold
for citizenship
in the kingdom of God
opposes the world’s system
it is not power over people
but people over power
not to have a servant
but to be a servant
to forgive
when unforgiveness wants to take root
to love
when fear wants to spawn hatred
resurrected life
requires a form of suicide
a voluntary death of ourselves
without the laying down
there is no raising up
the old
must give way to the new
we give up our allegiance
to the power of this world
to the slavery of our selfishness
the old vanquished
buried in the earth
returning from where it came
dust to dust
in resurrection
we bring heavens kingdom
into this world
“Good news to the poor
release the captives
recover sight to the blind
set free those who are oppressed
proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.”