Good Friday Meditation How It Is Poem by James Tipp

The backdropp is appalling,
People oppressed, bitter, disillusioned
The smoke rises, the streets filled.
People everywhere looking over their shoulders
Looking into the eyes of the stranger and wondering
Will I be next, will I die for the protest of others?
Jerusalem two thousand and three, today!

Only yesterday I stood here, feeling the same
As I do today, only today there is no excuse.

People living within the walls, divided,
Divided by religion, culture and dreams
Some dream of a new Jerusalem, messiah
Others dream of a Muslim state, the prophet.
You spoke of the Kingdom, not of this world,
So today they stay divided over land.
You said ‘God so loved the world’

Only yesterday I stood here, feeling the same
As I do today, only today there is no excuse.

The sound of injustice beats over the city,
The soldiers fully armed and ready,
The children caught in a time warp
Throw stones, the automatics burst forth
Death screams in the street, over powered.
So history repeats itself, the strong win,
The weak are crucified, outside this city

Only yesterday I stood here, feeling the same
As I do today, only today there is no excuse.


The world turns, the rich remain aloof
Like Pilate, power treats weakness with disdain
The politics are plain for all to see
‘He who has ears let him hear’
The world is blinded by its fear of the unknown,
Truth is sacrificed upon the altars of self interest,
Calvary is still outside the city.

Only yesterday I stood here, feeling the same
As I do today, only today there is no excuse.

Does God ever say? ‘Did I come for this? ’
Does God ever say? ‘I wash my hands’
The evidence lies within God’s history
The faithful one, the merciful one, the holy one
So he came among us, full of grace and truth
Lived in this city, loved this city, cried for this city,
Yet the city refused to listen, refused to love.

Only yesterday I stood here, feeling the same
As I do today, only today there is no excuse.

So we come together, to pray, to listen
We come as those called by the living one,
The one who cries still for the torn and bleeding world
Whose love demands new ways, from tired out dogmas.
Who offers life and hope now in the midst of despair
Who forever is the alpha and omega of hope.

Only yesterday I stood here, feeling the same
As I do today, only today there is no excuse.


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