A5- PART W

A gospel in blank verse with rhymed parables
The road that must be travelled by the Christ
had been foretold. His was the only way –
the way of suffering – by which His goal,
His glorious resurrection – could be reached.
Then, step by step, he demonstrated how
a line of prophets had foretold that this
was how the Holy One of God would be
revealed. So when they reached their journey’s end,
with light already fading, he was urged
to stay the night with them. Reluctantly,
it seemed, he was persuaded and agreed.
Later, relaxed, they sat down to a meal.
The stranger took a loaf and with a prayer
he broke the bread and gave it to them both.
That was the moment when quite suddenly
each of them recognised the man who’d sat
at table with them many times before –
Jesus, of Nazareth, the carpenter,
the crucified, whom Magdalena had
already seen, the Promised One, the Christ!
They stared in open-mouthed astonishment
and were about to speak, when suddenly
and wordlessly, he disappeared… was gone!
Ignoring, then, the lateness of the hour
their tiredness, and danger on the roads
they headed straight back to Jerusalem.
They recollected how impressed they’d been
when he’d explained the scriptures to them both.
Had they not had some premonition then
that they were in the presence of the Lord?
They must report these happenings at once.
The stories would be given credence now.
Were they not witnesses, first hand… and men?
Thus Cleopas and his companion
rejoined the friends of Jesus in the house
where they were sheltering. When evening came
they made sure all the doors were shut and barred.
Their whereabouts might be observed and they
themselves might be arrested and condemned.
w