Communion

by Eliza Cortez Bast

(theologian, reverend, latina, pastora, madre, esposa, leader, E8w9, activator)

cup and loaf

i knew i would be

the one, the only one

let us rise, and we blinked

my body broken for you

every room and every seat, ever

place occupied

eyes and hand that

don't look like mine,

my body broken for

the pews with common faces,

and here, my brown hands

tearing white loaves

for you, for you

my body broken, 

i consent

one cup

grapes squeezed and pressured

crushed so it can yield,

red like blood

fluid as tears,

come and drink

one loaf

grain from many fields

one cup

grapes from many hills

stand before God if you are able

let us pray

We have ridiculed and rebuked her

red lips and bold hoops

Lord, have mercy

We have discounted her passion as ethnic,

taking her power of conviction

Lord, have mercy

We have refused to invite her to our homes

as she does not look like us

Lord, have mercy

We have condemned her for taking her call

when she should have stayed home with her kids

Lord, have mercy

When she shows up as her full self, we have reminded

her how uncomfortable that makes us.

Lord, have mercy

Christ, have mercy

Lord, have mercy

this is my body broken,

broken for you

bits and pieces

gripped and ripped in two

this is my body

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