Emancipation?

Emancipation?
(Matthew 13:47-50)

   Many fields, many treasures, many pearls
   (One chosen). Here, fish netted, many kinds,
   But singularity is not the point,
   The point is, good are kept, and bad destroyed.
   Are these the gentle Galilean's words?
   If so, a strange form of gentility:
   The angels throw the evil in the fire,
   And there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.
   O, how we twist and turn and rationalize,
   Assured Matthew was victim of his time,
   And heaven's kingdom never need be forced,
   And "way that leads to life" is easy, smooth.
   Shall we amend, then, the Apostles' Creed:
   "To judge the quick and dead"? This we don't need.

COPYRIGHT 2006 The Christian Century Foundation
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning