jesus was a communist

with complexity

gave away food
let everyone drink at the party
healed poor people
for free

but respected
the property
of the most powerful
pointed
at the head
on the coin
and said

render unto caesar
what is his

but jesus was a folk hero
for a group in the field
stood up for freedom
against the roman empire

jesus upset the church
pissed off the temple priest
handed over to pilate
who could find no fault
with the jewish kid
even put his hand in water
to wash jesus' blood
off himself

it was the priests'
fault
that jesus dies

that is if you take the word
of the romans
who won history
in those years
with the jewish scribes
on the payroll
during the birth
of the new testament
so please
reserve your judgment

jesus asks no entrance fee
at heaven's gates

yet church takes up collection
in jesus' name

church is business

jesus says love thy neighbour

capitalist profits at all costs

church and money
have melted together nicely

jesus says turn the other cheek

then crusades happened

if only they
had listened to him

the faith business
embroiders jesus'
face
on mammon's
cloth

mammonites have
put on a jesus jacket
that fits comfortably
causing confusion
so that one may well ask
of every deed under the lens:

is it jesus or mammon
baking the cake