"The Gospel"

Attempting to define the undefinable

“The gospel says…”
so they say.
So I sit down and shut up.
Conversation over.

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Photo by Blake Cheek on Unsplash

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But I am acquainted with four
(four, among scores of more)
Who set out to write what
“the gospel says…”

and carried on & on & on.

They start at different places,
but they end the same –
in the mystery of a grave
empty.

They start to tell his story
euangellion
good news
and end with
“He’s not here…”

In one the end is so mysterious
women tremble to tell it
and perhaps tremble still
(as their words are not believed anyway).

In one the end extends
to all nations
to the very ends
of the earth.

In one it ends
as the Beloved One ascends
Truly he is not here
Though we are still.

In one it ends with the recognition
that the story will
never be finished
for no book can contain it
nor tell the whole.

These gospels are never
the end of the story
but invite us
to endless conversation
about Jesus
about the God he came to make known
to us.

Truly “God has come near” &
“he is not here”
Though we are still.

Why should our gospel,
euangellion
good news
ever
end a conversation?