A Mystery

Last year, I visited Occitania with my brother (look it up on Wikipedia if you're not sure where that is). I decided to go there to see for myself what was going on during the 12th century Albigensian Crusade where the local bishop came up with this pearl about Cathar heretics scattered amongst the faithful, "O kill them all, God knows which are his". This poem is one of my final thoughts on the subject.

 

The Cathar graves lie all forgot

Beneath the southern skies

Draped with veil of deep forgot

And yet mute evidence of when

In frightfulness weeds choked out wheat

Proclaiming truth that should not die

 

The Kingdom is within us, so they say

Does not come through violence,

With force or causing hurt

Conversion by the sword, you know,

Was never in the Plan

Comes privately to people one by one

 

Fellow travelers along the way

Seek others journeying t'ward home

As like finds like and hate finds hate --

And like and hate repel as we well know.

Though not discerned through opposition

They yet can be distinguished well enough

 

 

The Godly Generation

He will deliver the needy when he cries out

The poor also, and him who has no helper.

He will spare the poor and the needy

And will save the souls of the needy.

He will redeem their lives from oppression and violence

And their blood will be precious in His sight.

 

Behold, these are the ungodly

who are always at ease

They increase in riches

Surely I have purged my heart in vain

And washed my hands in innocence

For all day long I have been plagued

And chastened every morning

 

If I had said "I will speak thus"

Behold I would have been untrue

To the generation of your children.

When I thought how to understand this

it was too painful for me

Until I went to the sanctuary of God.

Then I understood their end

 

Truly God is good to His people

To such as are pure in heart

But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled

My steps had nearly slipped

When I was envious of the boastful

For I saw the prosperity of the wicked

From Psalm 73

 

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