Triumphant, victorious.
Our one true king comes to us.
Humble, riding on a donkey.
Shout aloud, loving cups!
Behold our king comes to us.
Humble, riding on a donkey.
Savior scattering the money.
Calming the pushing and the shoving.
Let’s kill him.
Cri de cœur.
From the lord.
With flowers instead of swangin’ swords.
Humble, riding on a donkey.
Even through oblivion,
Behold, our king comes to us.
Humble, riding on a donkey.
Laughing, when it wasn’t funny.
Staying, when I would be running.
Let’s kill him.
Let’s kill him.
Let’s kill him.
Every dog,
Every bark,
Every bullet,
Every spark,
Every girl,
Every shark,
All the people in the park,
Every fit and every start,
Everything in some dark part says…
Let’s
Kill him.
Kill him.
Kill him.
Sarah Dark, “Let’s Kill Him” A History of Lights And Shadows, 2007
Editor’s Note: One can hear the song transcribed above by clicking its title (“Let’s Kill Him”). It’s written and performed by my partner in crime and matrimony, Sarah Dark (sometimes AKA Sarah Masen). I don’t know of a song that brings the passion of Jesus of Nazareth—at this particular station—into our heady present quite so powerfully. If you know one that manages a similar feat, I’d welcome it. The above photo captures the expressions of two infinitely valuable bearers of the divine image who have, at least for now, locked arms with a white supremacist sexual predator against the people of the United States of America. As a Tennessean, I bear responsibility for their behavior in public office. They are in my custody. My prayer for them, this holy week, is that they would repent and be made whole. I welcome thoughts on the song. Happy Palm Sunday to those who celebrate.
Thanks Sarah for the reflections and David for making them available to us.
Gratefully,
All the People in the Park
Beautiful and painful and necessary words. We don’t get what we deserve with Jesus, and hopefully it gives us a taste for something better when we might be getting what we deserve with our elected officials. Is it possible that knowing Jesus actually makes us better people? I hope that the way Jesus loves us translates into the way we love others and then *that* will translate into the way our country evolves. Lord Jesus, be with us.