A Poem for Lent...
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BETTER FOR HIM HAD HE NOT
BEEN BORN
“…But
woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man!
It
would be better for him if he had not been born.” Matt 26:24b (NIV)
He
controlled the money bag
dipped
into the money bag
dipped with Jesus
at table
mingled with
Him
chewed the
fat
as they
roasted fish
along the
shore of the Galilee
Judas watched
Him heal
the blind and
lame
even raise
the dead
was there
when He fed
hungry
multitudes
calmed a
raging squall
and walked
billow to billow
upon the
storm-tossed sea
He heard Him
teach
beatitudes,
parables
even how to
pray
observed His
tenderness
as children
climbed
upon His lap
observed His mercy
to those who
sinned much
The day Mary
anointed Jesus’ feet
with
extravagant nard
and dried
them
with her
unpinned hair
it was he who
complained
the perfume
should have been sold
the money
given to the poor—
yes, it was
he, holder
of the purse
strings
When this same
apostle agreed
to betray his
master
for a handful
of silver
did he think
the Miracle
Worker
would somehow
slip away
unscathed, as
He had
the day He
was driven
out of the
synagogue
by an angry
mob
intent on
throwing Him
off a cliff
Woe to the
mercenary
betrayer of
the Son of Man
…Mammon had
always been
his greater
god
Their final
evening
at the
Paschal meal
the Master
stooped
to wash filth
from His betrayer’s
feet
Judas partook
of the Bread
drank of the
Wine
and when
Jesus dipped a morsel
and gave it
to him
from His very
own hand
the taker
took that, too
Later, in the
garden
following
Jesus’ great travail
Judas approached
Him
with armed
cohorts
called Him,
“Rabbi”
kissed his face
still damp
with blood and sweat
as the Rabbi
called him, “Friend”
The word
echoed
echoed,
echoed
in thunderous
heartbeats
till he flung
the tarnished
coins
through
temple doors
till he tied
a ragged
noose around his neck
and hanged
his wretched self
from a
jutting twisted limb
Maude Carolan
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