Two Large Crowds

The convergence of both Jason Ray's death and Easter this weekend has prompted me to reflect again on this Scripture story from Luke 7:

11Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. 12As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. 13When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, "Don't cry."

14Then he went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. He said, "Young man, I say to you, get up!" 15The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.

16They were all filled with awe and praised God. "A great prophet has appeared among us," they said. "God has come to help his people." 17This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country.

This is a slightly revised version of a poem I wrote in response to that Scripture passage that I posted back in the fall...

Two Large Crowds

Two large crowds converged the other day
just outside of Nain
Each with a Lord in the lead.

The Un-Maker had long ruled in that country
since the day of the Great and Terrible Exchange
the day the Icons cracked under the weight of pleasing to the eyes lies.

The Again-Maker was a young upstart contender
or so it seemed to the Orphans in the Land of the Ruins

Each Lord a singular point
a large crowd in His wake.
The Un-Maker wake: Heavy. Weeping. Mourning. Loss. Somber. Dreamless.
The Again-Maker wake: Jostling Glad Eager Expectant Hope-filled Laughter
Each person bore the fruit of life lived in its' leader's wake
(Every one is found in one wake or the other.)

The Un-Maker. The Again-Maker.
Only one can have the final word
one must
submit
as these two crowds converge

The Again-Maker had won small skirmishes with His Yes
But Death--
The Un-Maker's greatest No--
Had never been beaten.

Ever.

Yes or No?
Is Life, History, Creation
a tragedy or a comedy?
Weeping or Laughter?
Death or Life?

The Un-Maker who had widowed her before
now struck her childless
And all those with her
cracked and crumbled under the weight
of the rule of the Un-Maker

The widow and her coffin meet the Again-Maker:
Compassion.
The Again-Maker touches the No
that had ruined all his masterpiece
And all is tensesilencestopped

Living Words:
"I say to you, get up!"
And the son
is given back
to the one
from whom he came

Just as He would do
in his again-making re-gathering of all creation
When this Son also rises.

Joy swallows mourning.
Life swallows death.
Yes triumphs over no.

Hope Wins.

Two large crowds converged the other day
Just outside of Nain.