The Plan

He told us: Go preach the kingdom at hand.
Take nought: no shoes, nor purse, nor script, nor stave.
Leave Samaritans and Gentiles, stay in Israel’s land.
Heal and cleanse. You have freely received; freely save.
But I, Judas, a beggar? Cringe like the poor?
Snivel for alms, like those without the gates?
Before my next mission, I’ll lay in a store—
Borrow from the bag, receive usurer’s rates.
But the bag never holds much; I need larger sums.
I need a great miracle, like He’d perform.
(I’d have sold Mary’s oil, but they shouted me dumb)—
A great miracle? By Him? A rich plan is born:
I’ll go to the Priests, they’ll give me their store;
Then He’ll pass through their midst, as He’s done before!