What I have called clean do not call unclean

By Leah Coming

Eyes are foreskin.
Cephas heard commands from heaven.
Get up!
Take sharp sickle
Part flesh
from life and
eat.

Eyes are
comfrey leaves.
Poultice mingles
blood
with green.

Wounded Cephas,
you are holy.

Take
friend
eat.

Artist Statement

Blindness; covenant; healing; eucharist. Had Peter been too scandalized by uncleanness to eat with Gentiles, he would have missed a profound communion.

While Peter was still speaking these things, the holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the word. The circumcised believers who had accompanied Peter were astounded that the gift of the holy Spirit should have been poured out on the Gentiles also, for they could hear them speaking in tongues and glorifying God. Then Peter responded, “Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people, who have received the holy Spirit even as we have?” (Acts 10:44-47)

May we as a Church listen to God telling us: what I have called clean, do not call unclean.

About the Artist

Leah Coming is a writer, church worker, and candidate in religious life.