Mar
20
a holy week sonnet
Posted by Jon Trainer at 10:23 amFiled Under poetry, theology
Inspired by Carson’s work, I offer this sonnet from last week’s sermon text, Mark 11. Mark carefully folds the story of the cursed fig tree between Christ’s initial survey trip to Jerusalem and the Temple cleansing work wrought the following day. The one a beautiful illustration of the other.
The Fruitless Fig
Passing Bethphage the flowering fig tree bloom
Promised fruit to assuage the Savior’s need.
Reaching out and finding naught seals its doom;
A dreaded curse falling on future seed.
As on the prior day when temple square
All hustle bustle seems to be alive,
When really dead men sit on every chair;
A constant buzz from thieves within the hive.
But Jesus sees straight through empty ritual,
Weeping at the vision of upturned stones;
Aware sacrifice seeming perpetual
Will not atonement make but leave dead bones.
The withered tree a sign to sinful man,
Messiah cursed so he can bloom again.