His Body is More Than a Metaphor

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HIS BODY IS MORE THAN A METAPHOR


Intending to remind his dim 

parishioners that God is in 


the very room, and this despite 

the empty pew where you’d expect 


to see Him sitting were He truly 

there, the priest invoked His holy 


presence to attend the place, 

since even in the absence


of Your body You are here. 

Amen. But tell me then, for I fear 


this leaves me just a bit 

perplexed about the flesh which sits


in front of me, arms stretched

around a wife and wriggling child


wide as a protective bird

or the invitation of a crucified


criminal—priest, whose hands are those?

Whose penny-loafered feet?

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