A Mother's Point of View, a Poem, and Judas

The poem that follows was published in 1936 by Eleanor Agnes Lee. I found it first back in 1998 in my book, Best Loved Poems of  the American People. I found it again, today, on the internet at this website called OldPoetry. 

It's called "Motherhood." I read it during a church service on Mother's Day one year. It seems appropriate to read it again during Passion Week/Holy Week.

Motherhood

Mary,the Christ long slain, passed silently,
        Following the children joyously astir
       Under the cedrus and the olive tree,
       Pausing to let their laughter float to her —
       Each voice an echo of a voice more dear,
       She saw a little Christ in every face.

       Then came another woman gliding near
     To watch the tender life which filled the place.
     And Mary sought the woman's hand and spoke:
     " I know thee not, yet know thy memory tossed
      With all a thousand dreams their eyes evoke
      Who bring to thee a child beloved and lost.

    " I ,too, have rocked my Little One.
        And He was fair !
      Oh, fairer than the fairest sun
      And, like its rays through amber spun,
        His sun-bright hair.
      Still I can see it shine and shine."
      Even so, the woman said, "was mine."

    " His ways were ever darling  ways"-
       And Mary smiled -
      So soft, so clinging!  Glad relays
      Of love were all His precious days.
       My Little Child!
      My vanished star!  My music fled! "
      " Even so was mine," the woman said.

       And Mary whispered: Tell me, thou
        Of thine." And she:
       " Oh, mine was rosy as a bough
        Blooming with roses, sent, somehow,
          To bloom for me!
        His balmy fingers left a thrill
        Deep in my breast that warms me still. "

         Then she gazed down some wilder, darker hour,
         And said, when Mary questioned, knowing not:
         Who art thou, mother of so sweet a flower?" —
         " I am the mother of Iscariot."

Agnes Lee, Best Loved Poems of the American People, copyright 1936.

 

I watched the National Geographic program last night, The Gospel of Judas. It did not change anything I believe and know about Jesus. One can easily read all four Gospels and glean from that a picture of Judas Iscariot, not necessarily evil in himself, but someone placed into a role that he eventually regretted and could not live with.

Many people misunderstood Jesus' mission, his purpose on this earth. Many thought he would be their warrior king. When this did not appear to be the case, those that had originally followed and supported him had to make some choices of their own: to continue to follow him, or to abandon their teacher. Judas had a far more serious decision to make.

I remember back in 1973, when the album Jesus Christ Superstar came out. I bought it. I was a junior in college. Had not seen the movie nor the play, but the music and lyrics by Andrew Lloyd Weber were moving, powerful, and helped to tell the story of Jesus the man. The only thing missing was in the ending... I don't recall there was anything about the Resurrection... it made me think that Jesus was just a man after all. Not a God. And that Judas did what he had to do because Jesus told him to. In one scene, Judas sings tragically that he is "damned for all time!" and then he hangs himself. Fortuntately, I continued for more answers, and did not leave Jesus on the cross, a dead man.

The special that was on last night paints a sympathetic portrait of the man we have come to associate with the betrayal of Christ. It doesn't necessarily raise Judas to be faultless, but, from what I understand, it portrays him to be following Christ's request. In other words, he too, made a sacrifice of his own life, and certainly a sacrifice that left him in a critical, negative light. Evidence found in this gospel seems to say that Judas had more faith in Christ as Lord than the other disciples. It tells me, understandably so, that Judas believed in Jesus the Christ, but did not fully understand the concept of the Resurrection. (Who in his time did? How many of us today struggle to understand it? How many times have I betrayed my Lord when I could have boldly followed?)

Had he known what Christ knew, I don't think he would have killed himself. He would have rejoiced in the return of Jesus on the third day, and he would have known of the role he had to play. Do we understand our roles as Christians today? Do we know what we have to do? Do we do it every day?

For me personally, the answer is, regrettably, no. I don't do what Jesus asks me to do every day. I am weak, tired, selfish, and lazy when it comes to being a good Christian. I try. Sometimes I shine, other times, I'm in the dark. But I will never stop trying... someday, I hope to get it right.

Did you watch The Gospel of Judas? What do you think? Does it change what you believe about Jesus? Does it confirm what you believe about Jesus? Maybe it doesn't matter. You don't have to respond to these questions here... but do think about them.

You can also read about the lost Gospel of Judas at NationalGeographic.com.