Tag Archives: love

The Saga of the Least of These

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This third installment of the Trilogy of Mercy is The Saga of the Least of These. It was inspired by an encounter with a former classmate. It teaches us to be mindful of the personality of Jesus and His intent for His followers to model love and compassion for everyone.

The Saga of the Least of These

 

He came in contact with the least of these;

Strategically positioned beneath his gaze.

They walked the streets and loitered under trees;

Fought for survival on difficult days.

Rather than seeking to understand,

He figuratively gave the back of his hand.

Invisible to some, but to his glance;

The poor decisions they made in their lives,

Were not deserving of a second chance.

But they were not angry for life deprives

On one hand and gives with the other;

At times a way forward is discovered.

 

He came in contact with the least of these;

He did not know their stories or their plight;

To those down trodden and knocked to their knees,

He gave an uppercut, a left and right

And offered platitudes instead of food

And chastised a non-existent attitude.

His words were a punch to their mid section;

His accusations were born of neglect;

His demeanor inflamed their rejection

Their current state was not their fate and yet

He blamed them for their present condition

And gave them negative recognition.

One day he came upon the least of these,

Not the image on the evening news,

But a panhandler who wanted to please

By offering to shine his shoes.

After a few pleasantries were exchanged

He noted that the man was not deranged.

He was spell bound by the look in his eyes.

There standing before him was a classmate;

A football team member to his surprise;

A high school friend he had not seen of late.

They had a reunion for old time’s sake,

But pondered the difference time could make.

He was outrageous, loud and authentic,

While they reminisced within the concourse.

He found out his friend was schizophrenic

And lost his job while on the police force.

He was homeless and as a last resort,

Tried to survive working at the airport.

The image of suffering changed for him;

Became personal and it changed his heart.

He no longer felt the need to condemn,

But to contribute and play a part;

For if not by the grace of God he sees

He could have been among the least of these.

Copyright © 2012 Orlando Ceaser

Reprinted from the book Daily Resurrections

By Orlando Ceaser

Jesus Did Not Say (conditions & qualifiers)

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Cocky & Rhodette Pray

The ministry of Jesus is often quoted for his doctrine of love. In the second installment of the Trilogy of Mercy we wish to spotlight that Jesus did not place restrictions or conditions on his comments about love, grace and mercy. However, many of his followers’ place qualifications on his word, which were not intended.

The first installment highlighted what Jesus would do if he was just like us and we take the discussion a step further to challenge different interpretations.

Jesus Did Not Say

Jesus did not say,

To “Love your neighbor as yourself,” unless

Their difference makes it hard to comply

And bias makes it hard to acquiesce

And your discomfort makes it hard to try.

He did not say,

“Take care of widows and the fatherless;”

Unless, the budget is under a strain

Instead of searching for how you can bless,

You rationalize and ignore their pain.

Jesus did not say,

To comfort and care for the poor, unless

You can convince yourself that they’re to blame,

For financial uncertainty and stress

Flows from their actions and goes with the shame.

He did not say,

“Love your God with all your heart, mind and soul”

Unless, it’s inconvenient today.

Why put your future under His control,

When you can prospect for a better way?

Jesus did not say,

“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse,” unless

A major acquisition is in sight;

Or there is a prize you want to possess,

To feed your ego and selfish delight.

He did not say,

“My grace is sufficient for you,” unless,

You shop around and find a better deal;

Higher probability for success;

With self centered emotional appeal.

Jesus did not say,

“I am the way, the truth and the life,” unless,

You have your own path to the Creator;

And it is appropriate to obsess

On idols as God impersonators.

He did not say,

“Come to me all who are weary and burdened

And I will give you rest,” unless you find,

He is inept when He says that his word mends

The brokenhearted and gives peace to the mind.

Jesus did not say,

“If you ask anything in my name, I will

Do it,” unless He has a change of heart;

Unless, He reneges on promises until

He tears the foundation of the world apart.

Unless He,

Wakes up on the wrong side of the universe

And changes His mind to send another flood;

Develops an attitude to make things worse,

As He exempts us from the Savior’s blood.

Unless He,

Decides to qualify His love for us,

I would not question the work of His hands.

He did not mollify His love for us

Or place an escape clause in his commands.

Jesus was not conditional when he spoke

About His love for us as a healing balm;

His inspired words were not placed as a joke

In wisdom writings in proverbs and psalms.

Jesus did not say,

We should abide by his communications,

Unless, we take issue with his intent;

Be skeptical of interpretations

That are not consistent with His intent.

Copyright © 2013 Orlando Ceaser

www.watchwellinc.com

Personal Reflections

  1. Reflect on each stanza as you read it. Wrestle with the content.

  2. What do you think about the message?

  3. Are there instances where you misinterpreted the words in Jesus, either through understanding or your actions?

The Trilogy of Mercy

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daily_resurrections (1) (2)

The trilogy of mercy are three works inspired by Scripture that wrestles with the mandate of love your neighbor. They are,

  1. What would Jesus say, if he was just like us?

  2. Jesus did not say (which speaks to no qualifications or disclaimers on his love)

  3. The saga of the least of these

These poems are present in the book Daily Resurrections. The book is not a devotional, but it can be used that way. The title refers to the signature poem covering points during the day and during our lives when we are submerged and immersed in situations from which will rise.

Intellectually, we submit to the basic tenets of love and forgiveness. We accept that we all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. However, we must be reminded about mercy and how it goes hand in hand with love and forgiveness.

The first installment of the trilogy is a poem entitled What would Jesus say, if he was just like us? The poem is good for personal reflection and a group discussion. There is an irony in us expecting good things from God when we are reluctant to have His goodness trickle down from us to our neighbors.

 

If Jesus was just like us,

What would he do?

There is a matter I would like to discuss

What would Jesus do if he was like us?

Would he forgive unconditionally,

Or from a list he formed on Calvary?

He said, “Come to me all who are heavy laden

And I will give you rest.”

But would he make us fill out forms

And pass a series of tests?

And based on our affiliations,

Affinities, addresses and how we live,

Would he base reconciliation

On if he thought us worthy, to forgive?

If Jesus was just like us I wonder

About self serving parties to mark his reign,

Commanding the lightning and thunder

As miracles for personal gain.

Would he choose disciples by their net worth,

Socialize with an exclusive crowd,

Suggest we store treasures here on earth

As pompous, privileged ones and the proud?

To those who took the more traveled road,

For beating the system would he reward

Those who took short cuts to lighten their load

By throwing their good neighbors overboard?

What would Jesus do if he was like us?

Would grace be earned and favor granted?

Do you think he would be inclined,

To answer prayers with the favors slanted

To those with nice bodies, pure souls and minds?

Touch the hem of his garment for a price

Or sell tickets to let the spirit in;

Would he pose as the perfect sacrifice?

Would he do anything to save his skin?

 

There would be no need for confession

He’d love us only if and only when

We blame others for indiscretions

And go cold turkey to curb our sin.

Free will eliminated or curtailed;

Abandons when there is an accuser;

A constant companion until we fail;

To not associate with a loser.

Would he charge for frequency and length of prayers;

Score the difficulty of each request.

Pledge to stay out of earthly affairs

Because after all, The Father knows best?

What would Jesus do if he was like us?

Ten commandments and sermons on the mount

Would be delivered if the speaker’s fee

Was high enough to take into account

The distance he traveled through the galaxy?

Copyright © 2008 Orlando Ceaser

Reprinted from Daily Resurrections

By Orlando Ceaser

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