longinus

LONGINUS

THEY SAY HIS NAME WAS LONGINUS

IF THEY KNEW HIS NAME AT ALL

IF HE EXISTED AT ALL

THE NAME MEANS SPEAR

HE WAS NOTED FOR PIERCING CHRIST’S SIDE

WITH A SPEAR

AND HIS DECLARATION OF FAITH

AT CHRIST’S DEATH

NOW THE CENTURION WAS A MAN OF DEATH

SOLDIERS DO NOT EXIST FOR PEACE

BUT FOR THE KEEPING OF PEACE

OFTEN BY BRUTAL METHODS

TO THEM THE END JUSTIFIED THE MEANS

TO THEM DYING WELL

HAD AN ALMOST MYSTICAL MEANING

TO THEM CHRIST HAD DIED WELL

THEY WERE USED TO THE CONDEMNED

CURSING AND SWEARING

PLEADING FOR MERCY

CRYING FOR THEIR MOTHER

BUT NOT CHRIST

THAT

WITH THE EARTHQUAKE

AND OMINOUS

BOILING DARKENING SKY

RAGING WIND

THAT RIPPED THE TEMPLE VEIL

PROMPTS HIS AWESTRUCK CRY

TRULY

THIS WAS A SON OF GOD

FRANK A VOLLMER