Matthew 16:21-26

 Oh how we would love to have

according to our schedule

the world laid out in perfect rows

giving us the choice of this or that

free from any harm

or responsibility

to face the happy ending

in half an hour complete with commercials

Never Lord

was the cry of the  Rock

on whose recent confession

the church would stand

Never shall I allow you to go

to the cross

            death

                        new life

Never

            shall the designs of humanity

freely allow the

            Freedom of the Cross

                        to enter in

Never shall we know of the kingdom

on our own

            without the Christ breaking in

and replacing our inward gaze

With the light and hope of His love.