Not Common

The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour. Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance and saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth. In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. And a voice came to him, "Rise, Peter; kill and eat." But Peter said, “Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean." And a voice spoke to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed you must not call common." This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again. (Acts 10:9-16)


-------------------Acts Chronicles Ch. 10: Not Common (Unholy Bow) - Peter's Thoughts As Cornelius Fell at His Feet To Worship Him


There are so many things I want to say to you
firstly about moods and fickle temperaments
then about bias and blind animus
shallow and baseless catalysts
and untenable justifications for you
and I
to draw our swords and have them drink blood
and splay flesh
and may the victor drink copious bottles of wine in celebration
reveling with fawning women (bedecked in jewels
accentuated beauty with alluring eye shadow)
ingratiating men veiling their jealousy
just momentarily
while they jockey for the most advantageous position
to succeed you when youre gone
advanced in years or claimed by a coup (staged right under your nose)
....and this cycle never ends....but I digress
you eat and you pray for peace before you sleep
and guard your son like he's irreplaceable
and appraise your daughter infinitely more valuable
than any of King Solomon's heirlooms
just like me....you fear death, or at worst the dissolution of your
entire nationality
like we all do. Me at synagogue and you at the temple (at least initially)
feign piety in front of our families – yet privately yearn to know
what God is really like, and if He exists to just speak
even if ever so softly
while post ceremonies we snarl at each other from afar
or snicker at the suggestion of class exuded by the other
only perpetuating what we were taught
from carnal elders and parents of our respective wayward traditions
that aggressively safeguarded it
but that way of thinking is so crass promulgated by a dialectic
of blind hate....of
brazen ignorance and willful lack of knowledge
and I hope that by now we've matured enough
(or at least I know I have)
to see the fragility in ourselves just as we see it
in humanity
ephemeral, sad, lonely, insecure animals
who need to be loved as often as we love kissed as often as we dare to kiss
and who need to be assured that what prevents our unity
(which cordons our two worlds of value)
stands as a decrepit old man hiding beneath a soldier's cloak
paranoid of us calling his bluff
is only that which we give credence to
and let fall from the sky
like a great sheet bound at the four corners,
with all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts,
creeping things, and birds of the air
the notion that we can label and judge everyone but ourselves
as unclean
that straightway needs to be jerked right down from the sky
ripped, torn asunder and every caricature killed and eaten
swallowed along with our pride
because everything that engenders strife
endangers the long term existence of our dignity as a species
and threatens our extinction (remembered after only as barbarians)
making you bow unnecessarily before me
as though we are not equals

(as though you were common)


-----------------------------
And the following day they entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends. As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. But Peter lifted him up, saying, "Stand up; I myself am also a man." And as he talked with him, he went in and found many who had come together. Then he said to them, "You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean. Therefore I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. I ask, then, for what reason have you sent for me?" So Cornelius said, "Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your alms are remembered in the sight of God. Send therefore to Joppa and call Simon here, whose surname is Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea. When he comes, he will speak to you.' So I sent to you immediately, and you have done well to come. Now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God."." (vs 24-33)