Homily by Stephen Kingsnorth

The voice of the masses maybe
less gathered crowds, as feasts of church;
a eucharistic homily,
outspoken words, reflecting Word,
a papal proclamation, that
the way of peace, through justice found.

Tradition of the Nazarene,
the spirit of protests, Holy known,
by shaking hand in welcome, greet,
though not raised fist, defending guilt.
Prophetic declarations sound
in turning tables, temple bound,
where prayer has changed to profit made.

Admired stained glass where sun breaks through
is better framed in spectacle
of martyrs’ blood where son breaks through.
Resistance is necessary,
as scene of truth ’gainst evil ways.
Through painful sobs where rubble strewn
we hear the voice of God entombed;
there, love mound, songs and poetry.

Stephen Kingsnorth (Cambridge M.A., English & Religious Studies), retired to Wales, UK, from ministry in the Methodist Church due to Parkinson’s Disease, has had pieces curated and published by on-line poetry sites, printed journals and anthologies, including Poetry Potion. He has, like so many, been nominated for the Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net. His blog is at https://poetrykingsnorth.wordpress.com