John Michael Gutierrez, PhD
And they crucified Jesus with two Zealots
One of the crucified Zealots sneered at Jesus saying:
Aren’t you the Messiah?
Get us off this Roman tree!
Suddenly, the other crucified Zealot said:
Don’t, Don’t
Don’t you fear the Lord?
We deserve this,
but He - He has done nothing amiss.
And Jesus spoke to that Zealot:
Where’ve you been?
shaking his head, I’d all but given up.
In many dreams I've held you near,
Now, at last, you're really here.
Where've you been?
I've looked for you along wilderness paths
and on city streets.
Where've you been?
I'm just not myself when you're away.
You can be with me in the Garden, today.
And the Zealot said:
I’ve seen the morning burning golden on the mountain,
aching with feeling for freedom like the eagle.
Turning on the world,
Dreaming was as easy as believing
it was never gonna end,
easier than anything I'll ever do again,
Waking in the morning ,
Wiping out traces of the people and places that I’ve been.
Talking of yesterday, talking of tomorrow that I thought would never end.
And Jesus said to the Zealot:
You’ve walked a lonely path.
Oh, how very far you are from home.
You’ve walked in the shadows.
Your dreams are swept with fear.
Your heart has filled with sadness,
with darkness drawing near
If the winds of disaster
Have blown through your night,
and the dreams you’ve cherished can't begin to take flight,
Take my hand in the sunlight.
And the Zealot cried out:
Lord, help me, Jesus.
Why me, Lord, what have I ever done?
Lord, help me Jesus.
What did I ever do to deserve what you've done?
Lord, help me, Jesus, I've wasted it so.
Now that I know that I need you so.
Help me, Jesus, my life's in your hand.
Remember me, Jesus, when you come into your land!
And Jesus said:
Today, you will be with me in the Garden.
(with thanks to Bob Dylan, Kris Kristofferson, Kathy Mattea and Dion)