Betrayed, Denied, Ran Away - Poem by Raymond A. Foss

The pillars of the people
the disciples at the beginning
the twelve gathered with him
to celebrate the Passover feast

The Christ, god incarnate
the Messiah, Emmanuel
bowing before them
washing each of their feet

These simple men of the water
of the land, of Galilee
those who had traveled with him
as he spread God’s holy word

But as he spoke the words
the words of the covenant
the words we repeat
remembering what he would do

These men gathered with him
those he had lived with
would betray him, deny knowing him
and would all run away

Alone in his agony
even in the garden
praying that the cup would go
but submitting to God’s will

Like these twelve
each of us guilty
denying, betraying
often running away

Not following Christ’s example
running off to another land
denying hearing
the master’s call to us

Coming, sometimes reluctantly
back to the table
sharing the bread and the cup
even more humbly

Theirs is our story
over and over
the prodigals coming
to the table of love

March 2, 2010
Mark 14:12, 22-25
Isaiah 11:1-5
Isaiah 52:7 (Call to Worship)
Deuteronomy 16:1-8
Exodus 12:1-28
Deuteronomy 11:16-21
and sermon, “A Last Meal”
by Pastor Ruth L. Foss
the first in a series of sermons, based in part on the book,
“24 Hours That Changed the World”, by Reverend Adam Hamilton
http://thewell.cor.org/resurrection-resources/24-hours-that-changed-the-world.html
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
February 28, 2010

Copyright by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
Contact me at Ray Foss
for usage.