I wrote a first person sermon in 1968. It is Simon of Cyrene talking to his 2 sons about his visit to Jerusalem and the experience of carrying the cross. The congregations have wanted to hear it over and over again. This year I tried to put it to poetry.
Warning --- it's long.
I’m the One Who Carried the Cross.
By Larry R. Linville.
Luke 23:24-26
Hurry! Hurry! Come and sit down – I have a special story.
So special it is that I hurried home to tell you.
It was late when I left for my Passover trip
Hurrying only made me later.
With Jerusalem in view my head was spinning,
With all the things to get done.
One more interruption.
Is it a parade?
Traffic jam near Golgotha
Like I really need that now.
Elbowing through the crowd I saw a strange sight
A man badly beaten
Worse than I’ve ever seen in all of my life.
He was carrying a cross, what can this mean?
“Oh, Ananias,” I shouted to a godly Pharisee, “what is going on?”
“This guy says he’s the son of God!
He said that to the court.”
“You traitor” I shouted.
“You hypocrite!”
“You’re getting what you deserve.”
As I continued shouting – I’m not sure what I said,
He collapsed right at my feet.
I wanted to kick him.
“Pick up that cross!” a soldier barked.
I hated to hear those words.
He should have to carry it himself!
An order I had receive, an order I must obey.
Impatience and anger were filling my heart,
as I moved the cross from his shoulder to mine.
The atmosphere was electric as I brushed against his skin,
His blood dripped upon me
And I recalled our forefather long ago
Who were freed from Pharoah’s prison
By the blood of the lamb on the doorposts.
Our faces were inches apart
And his eyes peered into mine.
I’ll never forget what that stare did to me
I could see he wasn’t a violent man.
Those eyes seemed to forgive me for the terrible words,
I had screamed at him
And they told me he forgave me – for I didn’t know what I said.
Love flowed from his eyes like water from a spring.
It flooded my heart and made me feel very special.
I forgot my busy schedule and concentrated on the now.
Love surrounded in a way I’ve never experienced.
He said I could show that very same love to others
Because God would give it to me.
He spoke to me all the way up that hill.
I felt like it was only to me.
I should have been comforting him but he was making me calm.
He said it’s better to give to those you love than to try to make them change.
And when you are persecuted God gives you strength.
So I asked about my life – you know I have something lacking.
“All you lack is sharing God’s love with others.” He said.
I didn’t know what he meant at first – but I’m beginning to learn.
When our goal is just to keep the law – the law becomes our obsession.
When we love people – our obsession is people.
Many special things happened on that trip.
I tasted his suffering and his pain – as if it was happening to me.
It was as if those nails were driven in my hands and feet.
I struggled for each breath with him.
Loneliness – oh such a pain!
The friends he was so close to were watching from afar.
Shouting and hurled rocks and spit were all around.
Hate was greater than I’ve ever seen.
You could feel in the air – it was so intensified.
A scapegoat he had become.
While I carried the cross the fantasy became so real.
This wasn’t a game anymore.
When I first yelled at him, I shouted at a thing.
But after I had met him, I had a new view.
I knew that so much religion is only just a game.
When we pray, God is just an object to hear selfish talk.
God is a handy outlet for our wishes.
I think I knew how Moses felt when he met God in a bush.
And Jacob must have felt the same while wrestling God all night.
This is not a toy and certainly not a hobby.
It’s not a side interest for my spare time and spare money.
It’s not a punch line to get a laugh.
That reality that filled me changed me from the start.
I even spoke to Uriahs – for the first time in ages.
And you know, I really meant it as we hugged and shed tears of relief.
By the way, I didn’t tell who this special person was.
His name was simply “Jesus.”
He was a Nazareth carpenter’s son.
Born in Bethlehem in lowly barn.
But more important than parents of home town,
He allowed God very presence to live in him.
I’m not the only one with this thought as we stood at the cross.
A soldier shook in his boots as he said, “This, truly, is the son of God.”
I have so much to learn but I’ll make it I am sure.
It’s too much to accomplish at once.
When they drove that first nail in his hand anger exploded again.
I reached for my knife to take them all on
But he looked at me with those eyes.
And I felt so small, but he seemed to say,
“It’s alright!”
He loved them, yes, he loved them, as they put him to his death.
I have so far to go.
Your’re wondering why I am telling you this.
Simple, it’s so simple, boys.
He died on that cross for me and for you.
He wanted to show us a better way.
Anyone can hate others --loving enemies is something new.
He did this so we might have faith when we are knocked down.
We can get up and try loving again.
He did this for us.
Can we simply keep it for ourselves?
He did this not only for us, but for all of the people of earth.
He did this for Jews, and Romans and Greeks.
We are not to keep this great love that I felt – we’re supposed to pass it around.
Another great lesson I learned is so real.
While I hurried at my hectic pace, A cross was given to me.
I wasn’t consulted to see if the time was right.
If we picked the time of our cross, we would say, “some other time.”
And if the time was ours to choose
We’d next want to pick the size and the weight and the convenience.
Crosses have come to us already, my sons,
When your mother was ill for so long.
When the people at the synagogue had their petty spats
And they tried to get the rabbi involved.
We tried to be peacemakers, we made a good choice.
When we carry our cross and troubles arise
God give us a helper.
That’s what I was.
A helper in his time of need.
When we carry our cross, that’s all God can ask.
When we stumble, a helper is there.
Let me say one more thing before I lie down.
I know that my sins helped kill this great man.
But I also know that by the power of God, I was his helping hand.
You boys can help him carry that cross.
When you do it, you will be ready it’s true,
When the unexpected cross is placed upon you.
“Must Jesus bear his cross alone
And all the world go free?
No, there’s a cross for everyone,
And there’s a cross for me.”
© Copyright 2007 Larry Linville (UN: larrylinville at Writing.Com).
All rights reserved. Larry Linville has granted Writing.Com, its affiliates and syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
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