No Sacrifices!

From Ann Glover O’Dell’s Midwifing the Soul:

“I abhor sacrifices

burnt offerings and the rest”

God said

again and again and again.

A contrite spirit he desires he says

but we

set on action

works righteousness embrace

while denial words erupt.

Why sacrifice preoccupation

if not on God’s priority list?

Easier to wallow in the guilt

of wanting to be human

than plumb spirit contrition

for what that might mean.

We neatly set the formula:

someone has to die.

Not I

Not I

we say

and think we can breathe free

as hanging on the cross we see

the one supposed sacrifice

the oe who creed says pays the price.

“No sacrifice!” God screams.

“When will you understand

that your spirit I desire?”

Advertisement