“Gospel” is a beige word, one of those words we read but it doesn’t register because it’s so common. It shouldn’t be that way. For gospel” (euangelion), a word that means “good news,” has significance to all of us. While in ancient Greek “gospel” referred to the reward given for bringing good news, in the New Testament it means the good news itself.
Good news about what? About God and humankind. About the promise of salvation and its fulfillment by the life, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ.
The poem “Black Hole” talks about one aspect of that.
I first did some reading around black holes years ago when one of my kids was researching a science project. The theory that matter and light swept into a black hole’s vortex are lost to us forever remind me of what happened to sin when Jesus died on the cross.
“The darkness at the crucifixion” – Gustave Dore, 1865BLACK HOLE
“About noon darkness fell across the entire land…” Mark 15:33
Forbidden fruit’s magnetic lure,
crimson Jealousy, Murder,
consuming Lust,
that bangs down doors.
Fear, Conniving,
Lies – “She is my sister.”
Complaints, Grumbling, Muttering
Demands: “We want a king.”
Whining, Rebellion: “Who made you king?”
Gagging, Tormenting,
Killing truth-sayers.
Disease – rotting limbs,
glazed eyes, fever,
paralysis.
Demonized, rage-filled shrieks
Schemes, Betrayal, Mockery:
Curses, Spitting
“If you’re so wonderful
come down from the cross.”
All vortexed that afternoon
in thick, heavy Evil.
Oppression.
Tear-your-hair-out Despair.
Darkness. Sin’s sum total
sucked into a black hole…
“It is finished.”
© 2007 – V. Nesdoly
Violet Nesdoly 