commercial jesus or the things you can learn by channel surfing

commercial jesus brought to you by
crystal souls dash and flash
turn the golden calf into cash

the blessed
imagine a direct heavenly connection
born again, and again, and again

teleo-theologians
edited the new testament tossing out
the sermon on the mount
the good samaritan
all that stuff about peace and love

insisting on a need for greed
superior
inferiority spotters with raised arms and voices scream
repent!
invest!
you too can be a chosen one
many are called
but few will reap true monetary rewards

meanwhile jesus
wearing a t-shirt
jeans and sandals appeared today
but
he was swiftly rejected by followers —
corporate policy requires a business suit

additionally
his knapsack and paperback new testament
were an affront to the faithful
in their deeply cushioned seats
as well as viewers at home

surpassing judas
it has been demonstrated
that an initial investment in betrayal
can return a profit that can lead to earthly and “heavenly” rewards

Paul Cech has been writing poetry since 1970. Several of his poems have been published as Saturday Poems in the Pittsburgh- Post Gazette and the Thomas Merton Center of Pittsburgh has published several of his poems in NewPeople. Read other articles by Paul.