Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Poem to Judas from Jesus

I was listening to EWTN on Sirius satellite radio a couple days ago and caught the tail end of one of Fr. Leo Clifford's shows. This one was on the Mercy of God and he read a poem by an unknown Christian about Jesus addressing Judas from the cross. (Remember that from his despair at betraying our Lord, Judas hung himself) I was really struck by it but forgot Fr. Leo's name and couldn't find the poem anywhere. After some investigation I finally found one Google search result (One!) with the text of the poem.

Listen to the 10min. "Mercy of God" talk and others online here.







The text of the poem:

Judas, if true love never ceases
how could you, my friend, have come to this:
To sell me for thirty silver pieces
and betray me with a kiss?
Judas, remember what I taught you,
do not despair while hanging on the rope.
It's because you sinned that I have sought you;
I came to give you hope.
Judas, let us pray and hang together,
you on your halter, I upon my hill.
Dear friend, even if you loved me never,
you know I love you still.

I used it to close a homily on last Sunday's readings about the connection between leprosy and sin, about the shame that each produce, and about the courage to approach Jesus with humility and to hear him say "I do will it. Be made clean." Sorry, no text, I decided to experiment this time and try to just preach from a few notes rather than a full text. I think it went pretty well.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

One of the most beautiful poems I have ever read...

Anonymous said...

When I heard Fr Leo recite this most beautiful poem my heart was filled with joy and in the depths of my soul understood more clearly Jer: 31.3 - "I have loved you with an everlasting love so I am constant in my affection for you". (Taken from the Jerusalem Bible)

Anonymous said...

I heard this poem in the same way. Heard the tail end of Father Clifford's Reflection on EWTN. And then did the same thing! Searched the net!

Yours is the only site I have been able to find!

Thank you so much! This poem has really given me hope during a confusing and difficult time!

Aging Child said...

Same here as well, Father... thank you for taking the time to share it.

It is so beautiful that I suspect anyone's first sight of the Lord in Purgatory (we cannot expect Heaven) would be to burst into tears... despite what Eric Clapton asserts.

Best wishes in your priesthood; please pray for those of us still in discernment - may the example and intercession of St. John Vianney lead us humbly through.

Kind regards,
Michael

Anonymous said...

Same here, just heard it on EWTN, Fr. Clifford. So beautiful, especially that last line..."Dear friend, even if you loved me never, you know I love you still." Kinda gets ya right in the heart. :)