Identity Crisis

A poem about the Jewish Jesus Christ
inspired by a story first told by

Bishop John Shelby Spong

By Father John R. Green

Copyright © by John R. Green
Shown with his blessing

In the impressionable wonderment of adolescence she stood,
Surveying the swirling, unfurling humanity on airport deck;
Entranced by an object, curiously as she should,
A cross with Jewish letters encircling Bishop's neck.

The Moslem lass with direct speech,
Inquired why the Jewish letters on a Christian cross?
Jesus was Jewish, the Lord of Israel's outreach;
In affirming this, Christianity suffers no loss.

Does this upset you? the genial Bishop asked.
No, replied the girl, with charm magnetic,
Her anxiety toward fresh truth passed;
But I thought that Jesus was Catholic.