Lenten scripture for reflection — Good Friday

(Galatians 3: 27; Romans 13:4)

In imagination I’ve seen Calvary,
from various perspectives —

the foot of the cross
with the faithful women,
and the disciple
responsible for eldercare,
or further – a crowd,
listening to forsakenness,
cheering vinegar,
or the thieves,
meeting death themselves
as people do,
in such different ways,
or furthest of all
the frightened followers.

But this, too, is in the text.

In Rome or Galatia,
I hear Paul say,
“clothe yourself with Christ,”
and know I can – put on
the seamless robe,
I gambled for and won.

This character is true today –
with our new science and old hymns,
our theology and
our online platforms.

We are still people
who roll the dice for God,
are forgiven,
what we know or don’t know,
what we’ve done or will do,

and then slowly, tenderly,
stick an arm in the soft sleeve
and put on Christ
to learn to love the world.