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‘Splintered Messiah’:
I don’t want a splintered Messiah
In a sweat stained greasy grey robe
I want a new one
I couldn’t take this one to parties
People would say ‘Who’s your friend?’
I’d give an embarrassed giggle and change the subject.
If I took him home
I’d have to bandage his hands
The neighbors would think he’s a football hooligan
I don’t want his cross in the hall
It doesn’t go with the wallpaper
I don’t want him standing there
Like a sad ballet dancer with holes in his tights
I want a different Messiah
Streamlined and inoffensive
I want one from a catalogue
Who’s as quiet as a monastery
I want a package tour Messiah
Not one who takes me to Golgotha
I want a King of Kings
With blow waves in his hair
I don’t want the true Christ
I want a false one.
-Stewart Henderson
I want a false one.
In Sunday’s gospel, the Jesus continues to help the disciples understand God’s will for him as the Messiah. But he also knows that his disciples, good students that they are, may only be able to understand his mission by “seeing” it for themselves. Enough talking. He will have to show them that he must “go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders, chief priests and scribes and then be killed and on the 3rd, day be raised up.” Peter will not have his Messiah suffer. He does not want a splintered Messiah, but rather wants a strong, courageous Messiah who will help them defeat the Romans and bring Israel back to it’s rightful standing for the Jews.“
Jesus, however, must show his disciples, as well as all of us that what is weak in the eyes of men, is strong in the eyes of God. Strength looks different to God: Blessed are the poor in spirit, the meek, those who mourn, those who bring peace, those who are merciful. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness... “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.” God’s world seems upside down. When we get behind Jesus, and follow him, our walk will be challenging, difficult, and yes, at times painful, but “rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven.
In Christ’s love,
Claire Mis, Seminarian
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