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.”