I OFTEN WISH I WERE A JEWISH PEASANT
SITTING IN A CROWD
ON A HILLSIDE
HEARING JESUS TELL HIS STORIES
KNOWING THE FLAVOR OF THE WORDS
THE TENOR OF THE TIMES
CONDITION OF LIFE
FOR THE LISTENER
MANY TIMES
WE SPEND SO MUCH IN STUDYING THE WORD
WE MISS THE WORD
BEHIND ALL THE ERUDITION
ARE THE SIMPLE WORDS
LOVE ONE ANOTHER
IN THE GOSPEL STORY
OF THE TENANTS
WE FIND GOD
AS THE VINEYARD OWNER
THE VINEYARD IS GIVEN TO US TO WORK
TO MAKE AND SUSTAIN THE GARDEN
THE WAY GOD MADE IT
TO BE SHARECROPPERS FOR GOD
THEY KNEW HOW TO BE SHARECROPPERS
YOU WORKED FOR A SHARE OF THE PROFITS
BUT THERE WERE SOME
WHO FELT
BY PROMINENCE OF POSITION
THAT THE GARDEN WAS THEIRS
SO THAT WHEN SERVANTS
OF THE MASTER CAME
FOR HIS SHARE
THE ABUSED AND KILLED THEM
WHEN FURTHER SERVANTS CAME
THEY SLEW THEM TOO
FINALLY THE MASTER’S SON CAME
THEY SLEW HIM TOO
SAYING
WITH HIM DEAD
WE OWN THE GARDEN
IN WHAT WORLD WERE THEY DWELLING
WHAT FANTASY WAS THEIRS
BUT ISN'T THAT WHAT WE DO
WHEN WE SAY
SOMEONE
DOESN'T BELONG TO THE KINGDOM
AREN'T WE ACTING
LIKE WE OWN THE GARDEN
AND IT’S NOT OURS
AREN'T WE ACTING LIKE WE OWN THE GARDEN
WHEN WE DETERMINE
WHO SHALL EAT BREAD
WHO SHALL EAT CRUMBS
AND GUARD OUR TABLE JEALOUSLY
AREN'T WE ACTING LIKE WE OWN THE GARDEN
WHEN WE DETERMINE
WHO SHALL BE SLAVE
WHO SHALL BE FREE
SO THAT WHEN JESUS SAID
THEY WILL KILL THE SON
AND ACT LIKE OWNERS
THE CROWD LOOKED AT THE CHIEF PRIESTS
AND PHARISEES
AND US
AND KNEW IT TO BE TRUE
FRANK A VOLLMER
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