For Jews ask for signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to gentiles, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. – 1 Corinthians 1:22-24

Even Cephas, who when travelling with Christ
was always first to say it wrong, agrees:
Do not divide the church.

Apollos, now, whom some of you
prefer to me, prefer to Christ, agrees:
Do not divide the church.

I asked him if he’d come to you,
and do you know the words he said? “No.”
“I could divide the church.”

If you must give me up to live in Christ,
then do it. Give up Cephas, too.
Do not divide the church.

I was not crucified for you.
My resurrection still is years away.
Do not divide the church.

Or else – what follows then?
A Church dividing like the fractured bread –
Do not divide the church –

But unlike when our Savior broke it
on the hillside, who will eat?
Do not divide the church.

Across the centuries, I see it. So can you.
Love abandoned for these power plays.
Do not divide the church.

Or they will follow your example.

A poem/prayer based on 1 Corinthians 1:18-25, the Revised Common Lectionary Second Reading for Year B, Third Sunday in Lent.

The image is Saint Paul Writing His Epistles by Valentin de Boulogne (between 1618 and 1620) – Blaffer Foundation Collection, Houston, TX, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=596565.