Poem/Prayer for Worship

Poem/Prayer for Worship by Thom Shuman
Ephphatha
Ephphatha if we turn up our radios or CD players loud enough, O God, we are able to deafen the cries of the needy and oppressed: be opened, ears! if we switch channels quickly, O God, we do not have to see those disturbing images of the children in the barrios of Brazil or the families in Darfur: be opened, eyes! if we are persistent enough in our Pharisaism, and diligent enough with our docrtrines, O God, we can keep 'them' from coming to the Table, keeping it all (even the crumbs) for ourselves: be opened, arms! if we are cool towards the passions of pesky outsiders, if we are indifferent to the injustices of our world, O God, we can remain apathetic in the face of grace being poured out for our parched spirits: be opened, hearts! (c) 2006 Thom M. Shuman

(Comments to Thom at tmshuman@fuse.net.)
http://www.occasionalsightings.blogspot.com

Greenhills Community Presbyterian Church, Cincinnati, Ohio