Peter Menkin (on left), Linda Shirado,
Brother Rich Atkinson
at The Redwoods, Mill Valley, CA
in Ministry to the Elderly

 Alleluah!! Easter!!
By Peter Menkin

At the intersection of Easter


we wait with thoughts of new life,


the life of a baby, the life of the Baptized,


the life of the lamb, and the memory of slaughter,


of the death is fresh, but forgotten for the time


we say, He is risen! He is risen indeed!!






Those bones, those bones, those dry bones


are linked, renewed, given flesh, given life.


More than renewal, like freshness, like birth...


Out of the tomb, white as lightning, transfigured...


we are mystified, believers, quiet in surprise,


wondering at the miracle and hearing how the Apostles


told their friends the tomb is empty.






He is risen! He is risen indeed!!






The mind cannot fathom God's working, the promise,


we go on with the tale, this myth, this story


this reality after vigil, after waiting, knowing the end


does not come, for from generation to generation the day


is celebrated, as from everlasting to everlasting there is Christ.






Shall we say it the third time, Lord have mercy. Christ have mercy,


Lord have mercy. He is risen! He is risen indeed!!






Alleluah!






Freely is the offer made, freely we take the body and blood,


...we bless you in this freeform of sentences, for our creation,


preservation...above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption


of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; we share in his victory over death.



Stone on Beach by Rick White