HOMILETICS 101

The last time Paul preached down at Troas
the house was packed.

They came from all around
into an upper room
(closer to heaven of course)
to hear him say goodbye.

No doubt his words were eloquent
his thoughts uplifting
his audience rapt (or most of them).
Eternity was his message
and every phrase was charged with urgency

  and someone died.


The last time Paul preached down at Troas
the house emptied.

He stopped mid-sentence
raced
three
steps
  at
  a
  time
down to a courtyard
knelt in the dust
wrapped his arms around a corpse
got blood all over his Sunday tunic

  and someone lived.


Paul preached until dawn down at Troas
and not a soul remembers what he said.

But someone came to life that night
because of an embrace
in a darkened courtyard far below.