Christ Appears [Just] in Locked Rooms

Christ appears,
even in locked rooms.
Abandoned or in bands
in spare rooms or in bright
we hide, woozy and downcast—
and Christ is present
wedding our future to his past.

Christ appears,
just in locked rooms.
Host as guest he arrives
for the missing, the not-yet-present
the downcast, the cast aside—
Christ appears just in locked rooms
to unlock them from inside.

Christ disappears,
becomes for us the unlocked room.
But never absent in his absence
present not as body but as breath
keeping those within, anxious for those without—
Christ becomes our unlocked room
making space for us to doubt.

Christ remains;
provides all the room we need.
So doors, swing open—wide and wide!
And friends, uncork only the best wines!
Everyone, everyone’s invited, near and far—
Come, Jesus will greet you
and bend to kiss your shining scars.

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