Manifesto (Luke 4:18-19)

December 31, 2012Mark Van Steenwyk

Drawing in the hot breath of God,
My shaking lungs sting
Struggling to contain the power of the Almighty.
So I exhale the God-breath,
Upon those awaiting salvation.
Prophesying powerful portents of liberation.
Awakening the imaginations of the dispossessed.

This is my manifesto:

“This is your day, pauper.
Your empty stomachs will be filled with justice
Your lonely pockets will burst with peace.
The Heavenly Banker stocks your account
With cash stolen from the money changers.
No more hanging your head low.
No more thrift store spirituality.
You are the princes of the Kingdom.

Freedom is yours, prisoner.
Your cell bars will turn to noodles.
You’ll exchange the dank dark for golden sunsets.
The New Warden has signed your parole papers
And put the old wardens behind bars.
No more scratching the days into brick walls.
No more false religion shutting out the stars.
Now you sleep under the rising red moon.

Open your eyes, blind-man.
The darkness will be choked by light.
Confusion broken by the sound of a trumpet.
The Holy Physician shows you a new world
While the watchmen are lost in the fog.
No more rubbing your eyes in despair.
No more stumbling in perpetual night.
You will bear witness to the edges of the world.

Step out of the shadows, oppressed.
The Principalities will lose their thrones.
The Powers will fall to earth.
The Spirit of God has ended this occupation
While the imperial fleet burns to ash and drifts away.
No more plotting impotent rebellions.
No more struggling against steel and flesh.
For you are free citizens of a new nation.

The old fire have been suffocated
While holy coals smolder,
Purifying the hearts of the people.
I announce the jubilee upon those shivering in fear.
Shouting a sermon of shalom
As dawn of the first day breaks upon those he loves .

  • http://waysofresistance.com Jason Winton

    What I like about this, Mark, is your ability to capture a non-academic audience with the subversive imagery and story that Jesus’ “manifesto” contains here. I showed it to my parents, nonacademics, who are politically conservative and evangelical, and they loved it. They saw fear being wiped away and almost automatically felt closer to a real savior who provides for the poor, imprisoned, oppressed. I’m not sure they fully understood all the implications of that yet, but thanks anyway for writing to us with Jesus’ message. For me, sometimes I find it hard not to alienate them with the Gospel’s radical edge whereas your poetry didn’t seem to do that.

  • aquarius

    I like how it’s like such a cool metaphor for smoking weed.

    • Guest

      I get it now! “While holy coals smolder,
      Purifying the hearts of the people.”

  • http://rosenzweigshmuesn.blogspot.com/ daniel imburgia

    Really fine poem. obliged.

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