DIATRIBE

DIATRIBE



I DID NOT WANT TO WRITE THIS DIATRIBE

BUT SOMETIMES THE STENCH OF SELFISHNESS
IS STULTIFYING
SUFFOCATING
SADDENING


A PERVADING SENSE
OF
I’VE GOT MINE
AND THAT’S ALL THAT MATTERS

WITH IT
IS A SENSE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
THAT GOD HAS BLESSED THEM
FOR BEING GOOD

HOW DOES THAT SQUARE WITH LEVITICUS
WHICH SAYS



WHEN YOU REAP THE HARVEST OF YOUR LAND
DO NOT REAP TO THE VERY EDGES OF YOUR FIELD
OR GATHER THE GLEANINGS OF YOUR HARVEST
LEAVE THEM FOR THE POOR AND THE ALIEN
I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD


WE ASK TO PUT COMMANDMENTS ON THE WALL

PRAYER IN SCHOOL

GOD IN OUR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

BUT WHERE IS THE LIVING ACCORDING TO THESE RULES
WHERE IS THE THINKING ACCORDING TO THESE RULES
WHERE IS THE ACTION
TO MATCH
OUR WORDS




THE LORD IS NOT CALLED
THE FATHER OF THE RICH
THE INTELLECTUALS
THE POWERFUL
HE IS CALLED
AND CALLS HIMSELF
FATHER OF THE POOR

WITH ALL OF US QUOTING FROM THE SAME BOOK
WHY ARE THE POOR
POOR
THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN

WHY ARE THE HUNGRY
HUNGRY
THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN

WHY ARE THE SICK
SICK
UNABLE TO AFFORD DECENT TREATMENT

WE GO TO CHURCH
BUT CHRIST IS THE HOMELESS MAN
OUT ON THE CURB

WE ARE LIKE THE RESIDENTS OF SODOM
WHO WOULD NOT TREAT THE STRANGER
IN THEIR MIDST
ACCORDING TO THE RULES OF HOSPITALITY



BUT THIS IS WHAT THE LORD SAYS
DO WHAT IS JUST AND RIGHT
RESCUE FROM THE HAND OF HIS OPPRESSOR
THE ONE WHO HAS BEEN ROBBED
DO NO WRONG OR VIOLENCE TO THE ALIEN
THE FATHERLESS OR THE WIDOW
AND DO NOT SHED INNOCENT BLOOD IN THIS PLACE



WE SHOULD NOT
CLAIM
THE SYMBOLS OF GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY
UNTIL WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO CLAIM THEM


FRANK A VOLLMER