YHWH
The God who just is.
If it were only that simple . . .
Once upon a time, it was.
Time and tradition have convoluted
the simplicity of a straight forward revelation.
Over the generations vowels have been lost
leaving us to guess at the pronunciation
not to mention the nature of the One who really Is.
An effort at piety and respect of the Holy taken to extreme
distanced the people from God to the point
where Another was sent to claim the title.
Jesus embodied the I Am fully:
light of the world
the One before Abraham even existed
the gate to salvation
the good shepherd who lays down his life
the resurrection and the life
the way, the truth, and the life
the true vine apart from which there is no life
the One before whom even soldiers fall
Let us not bury this One who is, who was, and is to come
in unnecessary pious traditions lest we forget
how to speak the Holy Name
This poem is published in Barefoot Theology on pages 176-77.
RCL – Year A – Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost – October 19, 2014
Exodus 33:12-23 with Psalm 99 or
Isaiah 45:1-7 with Psalm 96:1-9, (10-13)
1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
Matthew 22:15-22
