Somehow
the Great Church
made Jesus
a univeral agent
remarkably famous
for 1800 years.
Then a slow, painful dissection
stripped him once again,
reduced a serious symbol
leaving him
a travelling rabbi
a sort of rebel
inconvenient
a token
to help Pilate
keep law and order.
Pick over the remnants;
choose some fragments;
focus on a gem,
a work, an act of love
or bravely seek
a temple not made with hands.
The elusive grail still tempts,
and movements mount;
consider the new man of Nazareth
or leave him, if need be, in despair
for he may not fit in with us now
as he never worshipped Mammon
as far as we can tell.
