Take (Lent 35)
Judas
20 Contemplations #15: Intimacy
He comes near, able to touch, to be touched,
and be wounded, to kiss and to be kissed:
the grateful kiss, the sleepy child dismiss-
ing himself to sleep; the mother’s kiss, a smudge
on freshly-bathed cheek; the plotter’s grudge
expressed in the curl of doubled lips,
the final, false farewell, the fatal tryst.
He comes to feel the touch of friend and judge.
He comes to raise His hand to touch the world,
to put together Jacob’s broken hip,
to be the salve on Adam’s missing rib,
to gather in His family, unfurled,
and show that God’s love isn’t scared to feel
the pain of touch to make all new, to heal.
Lent 44: Maundy Thursday
A new command I give to you
High Priests gather; darkness looms
That you love as I’ve loved you
Pilate’s wife now dreams…
Love your enemies and pray
Judas gives back bloody coins
Blessed are the merciful
The High Priests buy a field
This is how all men will know
Pilate struts; the people shout
That you are all my followers
Judas hangs in shame.
If you have love, one to another
“Shall I give him back to you?”
A new command I give to you
“Crucify!” they scream.
Lent 39: Saturday of Fifth Week
Sit with Him; eat with Him;
dip the bread, by His side –
Surely Lord not I?
Walk with Him through olive trees;
fall asleep and fail to pray;
watch as one of you betrays –
Surely Lord not I?
Warm yourself by cosy fires;
answer truth with spitting lies;
listen as the cock crows; Thrice
you will deny me. Adamant:
Surely Lord not I?
Watch as thorns are made His crown;
see the dice cast for His clothes;
see them spit and mock and dance;
see them cast their king aside;
Surely Lord, surely Lord,
surely Lord, not I?
See Him breathe with aching breath;
see Him lift Himself and gasp;
see Him turn His gaze to sky;
see Him ask in agony:
Forgive them, Father, they know not
what they do. See; watch and weep:
Surely Lord, surely Lord,
surely, Lord, not I?
See Him cast death, weak, aside;
see Him take on life and rise.
See Him lift the cursed ones too
and take them through His life and death;
see Him give His death to them
and give His life and give His pain
and give His life to live again.
Surely Lord, surely Lord,
surely, Lord, not I?
