Jericho Road

Why does Jesus choose this long, winding,
bloody pass – this treacherous road –
to goad
a truth, more sacred, more binding
when someone asks:
“And who is my neighbor?”

Why choose this dangerous highway
marked by tricky twist and turn
to discern
a more just and loving way
when someone asks:
“And who is my neighbor?”

Why does Jesus choose this road?
Jericho Road?

To call us to self-sacrifice?
Perhaps, but is that all?
What, pray tell,
is higher than this price?
Or more divine than this righteous call?

Why does Jesus choose this road?
Jericho Road …

Jesus calls us to dream, it would seem –
When someone asks – when we ask:
“And who is my neighbor?”

Like priest and Levite paralyzed by fear,
we, who know better,
see not that theology and worship cohere
and fail to do better –
paralyzed by fear
on Jericho Road.

Why does Jesus choose this road?
Jericho Road?

Because the Samaritan – alien and stranger –
lives the blessed dream.
This Samaritan risks danger –
this outcast lives the dream.

On winding, treacherous, bloody road,
this Samaritan sees.
Sees neighbor …
and in neighbor, sees self.

Why does Jesus choose this road?
Jericho Road?

Jesus calls us to dream, it would seem –
when we ask:
“And who is my neighbor?”
To live the dream
on Jericho Road.

To resist pride
and refuse to hide
and labor
to see in other … neighbor.

To hard truths tell
and break the spell
of ignorance and hate and apathy
and labor
to see in other … neighbor.

To talk and build trust
and agree to disagree if we must
and labor
to see in other … neighbor.

To trod Jericho Road. Yes, trod.
This long, dangerous, winding,
bloody pass.
And at last,
realize truth more binding
and see in everyone a neighbor,
ourselves,
and the face of God.

On this Jericho Road.
This road.
This life.
On Jericho Road.