St. Joseph Catholic Church

Sore-covered arms with threadbare shirt,
Yellowed fingers, arthritic joints,
Creviced visage awash in dirt,
Unwanted! Alarmed another points.

So quick to judge, so surely right,
He stands accused by what he wears,
So take him now far from our sight,
Separated like wheat from tares.

Outstretched hand and pleading eye,
But not a word or murmur made,
He lifted head to see the sky,
No forgiveness, their debt unpaid.

A warning then, to all of us,
Who claim to follow God's only Son,
As we forgive, forgive thou us,
Our actions bared by blinding sun.

© 2000, Deacon Ed Faulk