Judas

Judas I am a man accursed by my own impatience I thought my purpose was that of a herald I heard His wisdom and witnessed His miracles I knew in my heart He was the Messiah But He did not do what I expected Him to He didn’t drive the Romans from our promised land He told me to love my enemy as myself He preached peace when war was clearly the only way I knew I had to do something to force His hand It was time for God’s anointed one to appear I thought His purpose was to end our oppression For Israel grows tired of the yolk of Rome But instead of revealing His mighty armor He let the temple guard put Him in shackles They beat Him until the skin peeled from His body And now in my shame and disgrace I understand Faith, hope and love are His sword, shield and His armor They are His lessons and example for us all With just a fraction of each we can defeat death If only I could have realized it sooner It was like a veil had been pulled over my eyes And now I’m afraid it is too late for me I cannot bear the weight of my own transgressions And so my journey ends ‘neath the branch of this tree It would have been better that I had never been born Than to have lived the life of our Lord’s betrayer All I have done will be eclipsed by this one deed The burden of my curse is too great to carry So I say farewell to my brothers and sisters I am not worthy to share in your salvation So here I hang beneath a tree as dead as I Hoping when I’m remembered that you’ll pray for me